The variations of the texture evolution due to the deviation in plastic flow path of a material element during equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) are analyzed with the help of a flow line function applicable for any ECAE die angle. The function contains three parameters that enable it to interpret each variation in plastic flow trajectory. These parameters describe the sharpness, entry and exit deviations of the flow line. The approach permits to determine the velocity gradient field which can be used directly in the simulation of crystallographic texture development in ECAE. Effects of the parameters of the flow line on the texture evolution were simulated in 90° and 135° ECAE die angles in order to describe the characteristics of the evolution of the crystallographic texture. Effect of the die angle on the variation in the texture evolution due to the deviation of the flow path is illustrated.
