Kinematics fields and spatial activity of Portevin–Le Chatelier bands using the digital image correlation method

The Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) phenomenon is investigated by means of a two-dimensional measurement of displacement fields using the digital image correlation method. The strain fields obtained highlight in a quantitative way the nucleation and the displacement of PLC bands. The local strain, the width and the velocity of the PLC bands are measured. Effects of strain and strain rate are studied. The results show the close relationship between the organization of stress drops, the dynamics of the associated deformation bands and their parameters.