The article presents the results of investigation of ultra-strength nanostructured bainitic steel Fe-0.6%C-1.9%Mn-1.8%Si-1.3%Cr-0.7%Mo (in wt. %) subjected to shear and uniaxial compression under high strain rate loading. Steel of microstructure consisted of carbide-free bainite and carbon enriched retained austenite presents a perfect balance of mechanical properties especially strength to toughness ratio. Two retained austenite morphologies exist which controlled ductility of the steel: film between bainite laths and separated blocks. It is well established that the strain induced transformation of carbon enriched retained austenite to martensite takes place during deformation. Shear localisation has been found to be an important and often dominant deformation and fracture mode in high-strength steels at high strain rate. Deformation tests were carried out using Gleeble simulator and Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar. Shear and compression strength were determined and toughness and crack resistance were assessed. Susceptibility of nanostructured bainitic steel to the formation of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) and conditions of the bands formation were analysed. The results suggest that the main mechanism of hardening and failure at the dynamic shearing is local retained austenite transformation to high-carbon martensite which preceded ASBs formation. In the area of strain localization retained austenite transformed to fresh martensite and then steel capability to deformation and strengthening decreases.

In this paper, the microstructural and texture changes in polycrystalline CuZn30 alloy, copper, and AA1050 aluminium alloy have been studied to describe the crystal lattice rotation during shear bands formation. The hat-shaped specimens were deformed using a drop-hammer at the strain rate of 560 s ^–1. Microstructure evolution was investigated using optical microscopy, whereas texture changes were examined with the use of a scanning electron microscope equipped with the EBSD facility. The microstructural observations were correlated with nanohardness measurements to evaluate the mechanical properties of the sheared regions. The analyses demonstrate the gradual nature of the shear banding process, which can be described as a mechanism of the bands nucleation and then successive growth rather than as an abrupt instability. It was found that regardless of the initial orientation of the grains inside the sheared region, a well-defined tendency of the crystal lattice rotation is observed. This rotation mechanism leads to the formation of specific texture components of the sheared region, different from the one observed in a weakly or non-deformed matrix. During the process of rotation, one of the {111} planes in each grain of the sheared region ‘tends’ to overlap with the plane of maximum shear stresses and one of the <110> or <112> directions align with the shear direction. This allows slip propagation through the boundaries between adjacent grains without apparent change in the shear direction. Finally, in order to trace the rotation path, transforming the matrix texture components into shear band, rotation axis and angles were identified.

In this scientific publication, research results of two newly developed hot-rolled Fe-Mn-Al-C (X105) and Fe-Mn-Al-Nb-Ti-C (X98) types of steel were compared. These types of steel are characterized by an average density of 6.68 g/cm³, a value 15% lower compared to conventional structural steel. Hot rolling was carried out on a semi-industrial line to evaluate the effect of hot plastic deformation conditions with different cooling variants on the structure. The detailed analysis of phase composition as well as microstructure allows us to state that the investigated steel is characterized by an austenitic-ferritic structure with carbides precipitates. The results of the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tests of both types of steel after hot rolling showed the occurrence of various deformation effects such as shear bands, micro bands, and lens twins in the microstructure. Based on the research undertaken with the use of transmission electron microscopy, it was found that the hardening mechanism of the X98 and X105 steel is deformation-induced plasticity by the formation of shear bands (SIP) and micro shear bands (MBIP).