Computational assessment of the microstructure-dependent plasticity of lamellar gray cast iron - Part II: Initial yield surfaces and directions

In this paper, the initial multiaxial yield behavior of three different gray cast iron materials with lamellar shaped graphite inclusions is numerically investigated by means of the finite-element method. Therefore, volume elements including the real microstructure of the materials are loaded bi- and triaxially beyond macroscopic yield. The shape of the obtained yield surfaces are compared to the surfaces of four continuum models which, amongst others, are proposed in literature to describe the inelastic behavior of gray cast iron with lamellar shaped graphite inclusions. It is found that the presented continuum models and the macroscopic yield surfaces obtained with microstructure-based finite-element models deviate. Furthermore, the initial inelastic flow direction is computed at the onset of macroscopic yielding. The analysis show that the inelastic flow is normal to the yield surface.