A new critical point on the stress-strain curve: Delineation of dynamic recrystallization from grain growth.

A new critical point termed ‘stabilisation stress’ ( σ stab ) is identified in high temperature stress-strain curves. σ stab represents the beginning of a stage in the hot working process where grain growth becomes the dominant microstructural phenomenon. This point is detected using an irreversible thermodynamics approach. Predicted correlations between σ stab and grain growth are experimentally validated for structural steels, enabling the delineation of dynamic recrystallization from grain growth based on stress-strain curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]