In this study, a biaxial tensile test of cruciform specimens containing centre notch was conducted in order to clarify the deformation behavior near the crack tip at the early stages of crack initiation when objected to a biaxial stress state. Results show that the hardness and stress value within the deformed zone increased with increase in the loading ratio. Observation of the microstructure reveals that the deformation is dominated by basal slip under equal biaxial tensile loading. The asymmetrical biaxial tensile loading generates deformation twins near the crack tip. These results indicate that existing deformation twins contribute to higher hardness, and there is obvious anisotropism in the vicinity of crack tip under asymmetrical biaxial tensile loading.

The typical Fe-25Mn-3Si-3Al TWIP steel with different microstructure scale were investigated. It was found When the grains size is up to 35μm in the 25Mn-3Si-3Al TWIP steel samples, the twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) effect can fully developed and results in above 80% elongation. grain size had a strong effect on the mechanical properties. It was concluded that with increasing grain size ultimate tensile strength decreases, while elongation increases obviously.The annealing twin has the twin’s orientation, during deformation the annealing twin has get orientation ready for deformation twins

A numerical simulation method is used to predict the depth distribution of martensite and hardness in the case layer of carburizing (carbonitriding)-quenched 20CrMnTi steel. Microstructure and mechanical properties of 20CrMnTi steel after carbonitriding and subsequent induction hardening is investigated. The results show that the microstructure after nitriding and subsequent induction hardening is main tempered martensite and nitrides; after carbonitriding and subsequent induction hardening is main martensite and a small amount nitrides. The simulation results were a little different from experimental results. According to the results, the factors of reducing the accuracy of the numerical simulation method have been discussed.