Pseudo-plane strain compression tests are carried out on rolled plate Zircaloy-2 using different combinations of loaded and constrained sample directions relative to the plate principal directions. Lattice strains are measured for 17 out of 18 possible measureable sample directions. The inability to obtain true plane strain led to little effect of the compression rig on deformation during elastic loading; however noticeable differences are seen when compared to similar uniaxial data for Zircaloy-2 in the plastic region. Work hardening increased with increased constraint and was affected by the configuration of loaded and constrained sample directions. Constraint showed significant effects on twinning when twinning was present. For the RD loaded cases the initiation of twinning occurs at -318 MPa for the RD/ND case (RD loaded, ND constrained direction) and -420 MPa for the RD/TD case. Intensity profiles of the (0002) and {101 ̅ 0} indicate that more twinning occurs in the RD/TD case than the RD/ND case. For TD/YD an amplification of twinning was seen in the TD/RD when compared to the TD/ND. This is indicated both by texture results as well as the intensity profiles of the (0002) and {101 ̅ 0}. Using the experimental data an elastic-plastic self-consistent (EPSC) code was used to probe the micromechanical processes that are occurring when the compression rig is operated. The experimental data was used further to constrain the hardening parameters of the EPSC code using an inverse approach. The EPSC code was able to capture the relative activity of the twinning characteristics found by the experimental data but unable to truly capture the evolution of the (0002) lattice strains when twinning occurs. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2014-01-13 11:24:21.692