Hierarchical Modeling of the Mechanical Behavior of High Speed Steels as Layer-Structured Particulate MMCs

High Speed Steels (HSS) produced by electro-slag remelting call be viewed as particle reinforced Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) consisting of alternating layers of high and low inch]sion volume fraction. These phase arrangements require specific models to bc used in analytical and numerical studies of the elastoplast,ic response of HSS. In the present study, a hierarchical micro-mesomacro approach is discussed, which combines the Multi-Particle Effective Field Method (MEFM) for describing the mat,rix-inclusion topology at the microscale with an extended lamination theory for handling the layered geometry at the mesoscale. In addition, a Finite Element based two-dimensional method is presented, in which HSS is modeled as a material with a graded microstructure. The obt,dned results are discilssed in t,erms of ovcrall elastoplastic behavior and of damage relevant microscale fields.