Virtual processing of dual phase steels a microstructure based simulation approach

The simulation of manufacturing processes is of increasing interest siince it enables the virtual optimization of material properties and process parameters. Consequently, this approach implies a high potential to reduce time an cost during development and fabrication. This contribution discusses the simulation of a dual phase steel manufacturing process which is based on a micromechanical approach. The properties of the final steel sheet do strongly depend on the microstructure evolution during processing. For this reason, different modelling strategies are brought together, among them crystal plasticity, cellular automata and continuum mechanics. Special considerations are necessary to ensure an appropriate exchange and transfer of the required data which depend on the modelling strategy of the particular process step.