Abstract
Residual stress fields induces elastic energy, stored in a material. Another kind of stored energy is due to dislocation density and this energy is mainly localized inside grains. The latter one is considered as a main driving force of recrystallization. However, the stored energy connected with the residual stresses can also have some influence on this process. Both types of energy can be determined experimentally and predicted by deformation models. Using recrystallization models and stored energy distribution, important features of the recrystallization process in cold rolled steel and polycrystalline copper can be explained.