The strain distribution in a multilayered steel composite, which consists of martensite and austenite layers, was evaluated by energy dispersive X-ray diffraction to investigate the homogeneity of deformation in the martensite layer under uniaxial loading. A dog-bone shape specimen with a martensite layer with 0.2 mm in a thickness, sandwiching by austenite layers with 0.4 mm in thickness, was utilized in this study. A change in strains as a function of tensile loading was measured at the center of the martensite layer as well as near the interface between the martensite and austenite layers. Furthermore, the residual strain distributions were measured in the martensite layer of the unloaded specimens after different applied strains. As a result, slight inhomogeneous deformation was found at the beginning of the plastic deformation in the martensite layer although no local deformation was recognized even near the interface between austenite and martensite layers. After further deformation, mismatch of plastic deformation between austenite and martensite layers was reduced, and the martensite layer deformed homogeneously. Therefore, an unstable interface phenomenon might not be caused by the intrinsic factors with a mesoscopic scale discussed in this experiment.
