Microstructure and texture evolution during accumulative roll bonding of aluminium alloy AA5086

► The alloy AA5086 was accumulatively roll-bonded up to 8 cycles. ► The layered microstructure contains both elongated and equiaxed grains (∼200-300 nm). ► Significant substructure formation inside layered microstructure leads to shear banding. ► Characteristic deformation texture evolution after ARB with individual texture bands. ► Anisotropic mechanical properties after ARB with improvement in strength but loss in ductility.