Effect of Stress on the Variant Selection in Martensitic Transformation

Abstract

The anisotropic constraint stress will be induced in the specimens of thin sheets, when they are quenched below Ms temperature without external stress. The characteristics of variant selection phenomenon were studied under these conditions. The texture of γ and α of ferrous alloys were analyzed with X‐ray method. The results obtained could be explained satisfactorily with the Bain Strain model as follows:(1) Variant selection phenomenon depends on the orientation of the parent phase and on the Bain strain associated with martensitic transformation.(2) Such variants that have the largest Bain strain components to the sheet normal are selected predominantly, because the occurrence of variants are prevented least of all under the anisotropic constraint stress.