On the rule-of-mixtures of the hardening parameters in TWIP-cored three-layer steel sheet

Although twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steels have high tensile strength with high strain hardening and large uniform elongation due to the formation of deformation twins during plastic deformation, sheet formabilities of TWIP steels are relatively poor. In this study, to overcome this problem, TWIP-cored three-layer architectured steel sheets are produced using cladding with low carbon steel sheaths. For an optimum design of layer architectured materials, strain hardening exponent n and strain rate sensitivity m of the layer sheets are theoretically and experimentally investigated. The forced-based rule-of-mixtures well reproduces the experimental values of the equivalent n and m. Contrary to the conventional rule-of-mixtures, the equivalent n and m of the TWIP-cored mild steel-sheath layered sheets are governed not only by volume fractions and n and m of parent materials but also by the strength of strong layer.