Studies on texture and formability of Zircaloy-4 produced by pilgering route

Zircaloy-4 is a widely used material in nuclear industries due to its excellent corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures, low neutron absorption cross section and balanced strength and ductility. In the present study, the formability of Zircaloy-4 sheets produced through pilgering route has been investigated. Nakajima dome tests have been conducted on sheet samples taken along rolling, transverse and diagonal directions with respect to the rolling direction of the sheet to construct the forming limit diagrams (FLDs). The strain signature of deformed samples has also been studied to determine the peak limiting strains. Further, limiting dome height values are calculated and all the results are validated with FE-Simulations. Finally, XRD studies have been performed to understand the relationship between the texture and formability. The FLD and texture studies reveal that the Zircaloy-4 possesses higher drawability in comparison to that of the stretchability. The orientation of the specimen has negligible influence on FLD in tension–tension region and marginal influence in tension–compression region.