Quantitative metallography of deformed grains

The effect of plastic deformation on the grain boundary surface area per unit volume and edge length per unit volume is examined using two methods. The first by applying homogeneous deformations to tetrakaidecahedra in a variety of orientations and the second by using the principles of stereology. It is shown that the methods produce essentially identical results. It is now possible to calculate changes in the grain parameters as a function of a variety of deformations, for combinations of deformations, for complex deformations and for cases where it is not necessary to assume an idealised grain microstructure.