An experimental study of cyclic deformation of extruded AZ61A magnesium alloy

Thin-walled tubular specimens were employed to study the cyclic deformation of extruded AZ61A magnesium alloy. Experiments were conducted under fully reversed strain-controlled tension-compression, torsion, and combined axial-torsion in ambient air. Mechanical twinning was found to significantly influence the inelastic deformation of the material. Cyclic hardening was observed at all the strain amplitudes under investigation. For tension-compression at strain amplitudes higher than 0.5%, the stress-strain hysteresis loop was asymmetric with a positive mean stress. This was associated with mechanical twinning in the compression phase and detwinning in the subsequent tension phase. Under cyclic torsion, the stress-strain hysteresis loops were symmetric although mechanical twinning was observed at high shear strain amplitudes. When the material was subjected to combined axial-torsion loading, the alternative occurrence of twinning and detwinning processes under axial stress resulted in asymmetric shear stress-shear strain hysteresis loops. Nonproportional hardening was not observed due to limited number of slip systems and the formation of mechanical twins. Microstructures after the stabilization of cyclic deformation were observed and the dominant mechanisms governing cyclic deformation were discussed. Existing cyclic plasticity models were discussed in light of their capabilities for modeling the observed cyclic deformation of the magnesium alloy.     

孪生诱发塑性对V-5Cr-5Ti合金应变硬化行为的影响

钒合金(V-Cr-Ti)作为潜在重要的聚变反应堆用结构材料, 近年来受到广泛的关注. 为了研究 V-5Cr-5Ti 合金不同应变率压缩下的应变硬化行为, 特别是孪生对塑性变形的影响, 以位错密度和孪晶演化为基础, 建立了该合金的应变硬化模型. 模型中考虑了孪晶中的位错滑移对材料塑性应变的贡献. 模拟结果表明, 由于孪生诱发塑性, 从而使动态压缩时的位错密度小于准静态加载时的, 这使得 V-5Cr-5Ti 合金在动态压缩时的应变硬化率比准静态加载时的小. 当孪晶形成后, 位错滑移引起的塑性应变率随应变增大而增大, 并逐渐接近加载应变率, 而孪生引起的塑性应变率则随应变增大而减小.      

Hardening evolution of AZ31B Mg sheet

The monotonic and cyclic mechanical behavior of O-temper AZ31B Mg sheet was measured in large-strain tension/compression and simple shear. Metallography, acoustic emission (AE), and texture measurements revealed twinning during in-plane compression and untwinning upon subsequent tension, producing asymmetric yield and hardening evolution. A working model of deformation mechanisms consistent with the results and with the literature was constructed on the basis of predominantly basal slip for initial tension, twinning for initial compression, and untwinning for tension following compression. The activation stress for twinning is larger than that for untwinning, presumably because of the need for nucleation. Increased accumulated hardening increases the twin nucleation stress, but has little effect on the untwinning stress. Multiple-cycle deformation tends to saturate, with larger strain cycles saturating more slowly. A novel analysis based on saturated cycling was used to estimate the relative magnitude of hardening effects related to twinning. For a 4% strain range, the obstacle strength of twins to slip is 3 MPa, approximately 1/3 the magnitude of textural hardening caused by twin formation (10 MPa). The difference in activation stress of twinning versus untwinning (11 MPa) is of the same magnitude as textural hardening.     

Effects of texture on shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression and bending

In this study, effects of typical texture components observed in rolled aluminum alloy sheets on shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression and bending are systematically studied. The material response is described by a generalized Taylor-type polycrystal model, in which each grain is characterized in terms of an elastic–viscoplastic continuum slip constitutive relation. First, a simple model analysis in which the shear band is assumed to occur in a weaker thin slice of material is performed. From this simple model analysis, two important quantities regarding shear band formation are obtained: i.e. the critical strain at the onset of shear banding and the corresponding orientation of shear band. Second, the shear band development in plane strain tension/compression is analyzed by the finite element method. Predictability of the finite element analysis is compared to that of the simple model analysis. Third, shear band developments in plane strain pure bending of a sheet specimen with the typical textures are studied. Regions near the surfaces in a bent sheet specimen are approximately subjected to plane strain tension or compression. From this viewpoint, the bendability of a sheet specimen may be evaluated, using the knowledge regarding shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression. To confirm this and to encompass overall deformation of a bent sheet specimen, including shear bands, finite element analyses of plane strain pure bending are carried out, and the predicted shear band formation in bent specimens is compared to that in the tension/compression problem. Finally, the present results are compared to previous related studies, and the efficiency of the present method for materials design in future is discussed.     

大应变率范围内AM80镁合金的变形行为及组织演变

采用INSTRON准静态压缩试验机和分离式霍普金森压杆装置，研究固溶态AM80镁合金在室温准静态和冲击载荷下的变形行为及组织演变。准静态载荷下，流变应力随应变率（3×10-5~4×10-1 s-1）的升高逐渐降低，表现为负应变率敏感性；冲击载荷下，流变应力随应变率（7.00×102~5.20×103 s-1）的升高而升高，呈现出明显的正应变率敏感性。冲击载荷下AM80镁合金的变形机制以基面滑移和孪生为主，大量细小致密的形变孪生以及适量非基面滑移的启动是AM80镁合金在冲击载荷下流变应力明显高于准静态载荷的重要原因。此外，随应变率的升高，AM80镁合金变形的均匀性明显增强，当应变速率升至3.65×103 s-1时，冲击变形所引起的局部绝热温升软化大于应变硬化与应变速率硬化的总和，部分晶粒产生了明显的动态回复，使得孪晶密度和变形均匀性反而降低。     

Complex investigation of deformation twinning in γ-TiAl by TEM and neutron diffraction

A near-γ TiAl based alloy with 2 at% of Nb was investigated by means of collaborative research based on transmission electron microscopy and in-situ neutron diffraction techniques with the aim to study mechanical twinning and its role within the mechanisms governing fatigue response and material properties. In-situ neutron diffraction measurements were performed during low cycle fatigue straining at room temperature. Induced lattice strain related to the formation of deformation twins was detected and used to follow changes in the macroscopic material response caused by the twinning process during cycling. A microscopic insight was realised by using several transmission electron microscopy techniques to reveal in detail an internal deformation microstructure of the material at the beginning as well as at the end of the fatigue life. The study was focused on the first loading cycles where the material shows intense cyclic hardening. The effect of mechanical twinning on the material behaviour at several stages of the fatigue life is discussed for two different total strain amplitudes of 0.2% and 0.4%.     

Dislocation pile-ups in bicrystals within continuum dislocation theory

Within continuum dislocation theory the plastic deformation of bicrystals under a mixed deformation of plane constrained uniaxial extension and shear is investigated with regard to the nucleation of dislocations and the dislocation pile-up near the phase boundaries of a model bicrystal with one active slip system within each single crystal. For plane uniaxial extension, we present a closed-form analytical solution for the evolution of the plastic distortion and of the dislocation network in the case of symmetric slip planes (i.e. for twins), which exhibits an energetic as well as a dissipative threshold for the dislocation nucleation. The general solution for non-symmetric slip systems is obtained numerically. For a combined deformation of extension and shear, we analyze the possibility of linearly superposing results obtained for both loading cases independently. All solutions presented in this paper also display the Bauschinger effect of translational work hardening and a size effect typical to problems of crystal plasticity.     

不同加载状态下TA2钛合金绝热剪切破坏响应特性

一般认为绝热剪切现象在宏观上表现为材料动态本构失稳,即热软化大于应变硬化.本文采用帽型受迫剪切试样研究TA2钛合金的动态力学特性和本构失稳过程.首先对剪切区加载应力状态进行理论和数值分析,通过合理设计帽型试样,剪切区变形可近似按剪切状态处理;结合二维数字图像相关法(two-dimensional digital image correlation,DIC-2D)直接测试试样剪切区应变演化,给出帽型受迫剪切实验的等效应力-应变响应曲线.进一步,利用Hopkinson压杆对TA2钛合金开展动态压缩及帽型剪切对比试验研究,比较压缩、剪切试验得到的等效应力-应变曲线,采用"冻结"试样方法分析试样中绝热剪切局域化演化过程,探讨不同加载状态下TA2钛合金的绝热剪切破坏现象及其动态力学响应特性.实验结果表明,在塑性变形初始阶段,动态压缩及剪切加载下的等效应力-应变曲线符合较好,但随塑性损伤发展及绝热剪切带形成,两者出现分离,表明损伤及绝热剪切演化过程与应力状态相关.剪切试样实验得到的本构"软化"特性能够反映绝热剪切带起始、破坏演化过程的力学响应特性,而在动态压缩实验中,即使试样中已出现双锥形的绝热剪切带及局部裂纹分布,其表观等效应力-应变曲线并不出现软化特征,动态压缩实验无法得到关于绝热剪切起始、发展以及破坏的本构软化响应特性.     

Shear band formation in thermo-viscoplastic solids under plane strain compression

The plane strain compression of a rectangular block is numerically investigated for the study of dynamic shear band development in thermo-elasto-viscoplastic materials from an internal inhomogeneity. As expected, it plays an important role in triggering the onset of shear, localization as well as thermal softening. And the competition between the strain, strain-rate hardening and thermal softening exists throughout the process. It is found that shear band develops at a 45-degree angle to the compression axis. In the light of given patterns of deformation and temperature, shear band evolution accelerated by thermal softening is retarded by the inertial effects. Interestingly, a similar temperature band is also formed along the trajectory of the localized deformation band. The calculations also show the energy evolution during the coupled thermo-mechanical process of shear band propagation. Finally, the mesh effect is discussed in terms of the numerical results from two different meshes. The project is supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China.     

某水电站坝基岩体结构面室内大型直剪试验研究

岩体结构面的抗剪强度是表征岩体强度的一项重要参数,但由于原位试验受场地等诸多因素影响,难以大规模的开展,本文提出在室内用结构面大型剪切试验开展结构面的剪切特性研究,以某水电站坝基砂岩岩体中的硬性结构面为研究对象,取得了较好的成果。试验表明:结构面的多组剪切变形曲线具有一定的应变硬化的特征;达到峰值剪切强度时的剪切位移普遍较大,在8.9mm～44.5mm之间;砂岩中硬性结构面光滑面的“基本摩擦角”为31.4°,结构面“平均起伏角”为6.3°。     

Mechanical response and texture evolution of AZ31 alloy at large strains for different strain rates and temperatures

In order to study the behavior of material under finite deformation at various strain rates, the responses of AZ31 Mg sheet are measured under uniaxial (tension and compression) and multiaxial (simple shear) loadings along rolling direction (RD), 45° to rolling direction (DD), 90° to rolling direction (TD), and normal to the sheet (ND) to large strains. The material exhibits positive strain rate sensitivity (SRS) at room and elevated temperatures; the SRS is more pronounced at high temperatures and lower strain rates. The r-value of the material under tensile loading at room temperatures is higher in TD at lower strain rate. Texture measurements on several failed specimens are reported under tension and simple shear after finite plastic deformation of about 20% equivalent strain. The as-received material exhibits a strong fiber with equal fractions of grains having the c-axis slightly tilted away from the sheet normal towards both +RD and −RD. Pole figures obtained after tensile loading along the rolling direction (RD) show that the texture of the material strengthens even at low strains, with c-axis perpendicular to the sheet plane and prism planes lining up in a majority of grains. However, the tensile loading axis along TD does not lead to similar texture strengthening; the c-axis distribution appears to be virtually unchanged from the virgin state. The pole figures obtained after in-plane compression along RD brings the c-axes of the grains parallel to the loading direction. The pole figures after simple shear loading show that the c-axis rotates to lie on the sheet plane consistent with a compression axis 45° away on the sheet plane.     

Plastic flow stability of nanotwinned Cu foils

The plastic flow stability of nanotwinned Cu foils was investigated via room temperature rolling. Nanotwinned Cu, with an average twin thickness of 5 nm, exhibited stable plastic flow without shear localization or fracture, even at thickness reduction of over 50%. The retention of {1 1 1} fiber texture after rolling indicates insignificant out-of-plane rotation of the columnar grains and is interpreted in terms of a symmetric slip model. No significant change in the average twin lamellae thickness was seen even at thickness reduction of over 50%, suggesting that some twin boundaries were annihilated during deformation. The annihilation of very thin twins is a consequence of migration of twin boundaries due to the glide of twinning dislocations (disconnections) in the twin plane. The work hardening after rolling is correlated with the dislocation storage at twin boundaries.     

A continuum model for initiation and evolution of deformation twinning

Within continuum dislocation theory the plastic deformation of a single crystal with one active slip system under plane-strain constrained shear is investigated. By introducing a twinning shear into the energy of the crystal, we show that in a certain range of straining the formation of deformation twins becomes energetically preferable. An energetic threshold for the onset of twinning is determined. A rough analysis qualitatively describes not only the evolving volume fractions of twins but also their number during straining. Finally, we analyze the evolution of deformation twins and of the dislocation network at non-zero dissipation. We present the corresponding stress-strain hysteresis, the evolution of the plastic distortion, the twin volume fractions and the dislocation densities.     

Theoretical latent hardening in crystals—II. BCC crystals in tension and compression

The general latent hardening law of single slip derived in the first paper of this series (Havner, Baker and Vause, 1979) is applied to an analysis of “overshooting” phenomena in bcc crystals in tension and compression. This new law, which predicts anisotropic hardening of latent slip systems, is based upon the simple theory of finite distortional crystal hardening introduced by Havner and Shalaby (1977).Because of historical ambiguities regarding identification of the slip plane in bcc metals, parallel analyses are presented corresponding to two separate criteria: (i) slip on {110}, {112} and {123} crystallographic planes only; and (ii) slip on the plane of maximum resolved shear stress containing a 〈111〉 direction. It is established that the new hardening law is a theory of “overshooting” in bcc crystals according to either identification of the slip plane.A qualitative comparison between theoretical results and two experimental papers on Fe crystals is included. The general difficulties in making comparisons with the experimental literature on finite distortional latent hardening are briefly discussed.     

Artificial aging and shear deformation behaviour of 6022 aluminium alloy

In this study, the artificial aging behaviour of 6022-T4 alloy is investigated over a wide temperature range. Hardness readings, TEM and XRD analyses were performed. It was shown that 6022-T4 alloy can be substantially hardened through a short aging treatment at temperatures in excess of 200 °C. The strain hardening curves of the 6022 alloy in different aging conditions were measured using the simple shear test and analysed in terms of their respective microstructures. The under-aged and pre-peak-aged exhibited a good combination of strength and strain hardening while the peak-aged alloy was characterised by maximum strength, albeit with a drastic reduction in strain hardening ability. Strain reversal experiments in simple shear were carried out in order to characterize the Bauschinger effect for the different heat treatment conditions. It was shown that the T4 and under-aged conditions lead to permanent softening of the flow stress.     

Constitutive modeling for anisotropic/asymmetric hardening behavior of magnesium alloy sheets

Magnesium alloy sheets have been extending their field of applications to automotive and electronic industries taking advantage of their excellent light weight property. In addition to well-known lower formability, magnesium alloys have unique mechanical properties which have not been thoroughly studied: high in-plane anisotropy/asymmetry of yield stress and hardening response. The reason of the unusual mechanical behavior of magnesium alloys has been understood by the limited symmetry crystal structure of HCP metals and thus by deformation twinning. In this paper, the phenomenological continuum plasticity models considering the unusual plastic behavior of magnesium alloy sheet were developed for a finite element analysis. A hardening law based on two-surface model was further extended to consider the general stress–strain response of metal sheets including Bauschinger effect, transient behavior and the unusual asymmetry. Three deformation modes observed during the continuous in-plane tension/compression tests were mathematically formulated with simplified relations between the state of deformation and their histories. In terms of the anisotropy and asymmetry of the initial yield stress, the Drucker–Prager’s pressure dependent yield surface was modified to include the anisotropy of magnesium alloy. The numerical formulations and characterization procedures were also presented and finally the correlation of simulation with measurements was performed to validate the proposed theory.     

An efficient constitutive model for room-temperature,low-rate plasticity of annealed Mg AZ31B sheet

Metals and alloys with hexagonal close packed (HCP) crystal structures can undergo twinning in addition to dislocation slip when loaded mechanically. The complexity of the plastic response and the limited extent of twinning are impediments to their room-temperature formability and thus their widespread adoption. In order to exploit the unusual deformation characteristics of twinning sheet materials in designing novel forming operations, a practical plane stress material model for finite element implementation was sought. Such a model, TWINLAW, has been constructed based on three phenomenological deformation modes for Mg AZ31B: S (slip), T (twinning), and U (untwinning). The modes correspond to three testing regimes: initial in-plane tension (from the annealed state), initial in-plane compression, and in-plane tension following compression, respectively. A von Mises yield surface with initial non-zero back stress was employed to account for plastic yielding asymmetry, with evolution according to a novel isotropic and nonlinear kinematic hardening model. Texture and its evolution were represented throughout deformation using a weighted discrete probability density function of c-axis orientations. The orientation of c-axes evolves with twinning or untwinning using explicit rules incorporated in the model.     

Post-critical plastic deformation in incrementally nonlinear materials

The formation of multiple macroscopic shear bands is investigated as a mechanism of advanced plastic flow of polycrystalline metals. The overall deformation pattern and material characteristics are determined beyond the critical instant of ellipticity loss, without the need of introducing an internal length scale. This novel approach to the modelling of post-critical plastic deformation is based on the concept of a representative nonuniform solution in a homogeneous material. The indeterminacy of a post-critical representative solution is removed by eliminating unstable solution paths with the help of the energy criterion of path instability. It is shown that the use of micromechanically based, incrementally nonlinear corner theories of time-independent plasticity leads then to gradual concentration of post-critical plastic deformation. The volume fraction occupied by shear bands is found to have initially a well-defined, finite value insensitive to the mesh size in finite element calculations. Further deformation depends qualitatively on details of the constitutive law. In certain cases, the volume fraction of active bands decreases rapidly to zero, leading to material instability of dynamic type. However, for physically hardening materials with the yield-vertex effect, the localization volume typically remains finite over a considerable deformation range. At later stages of the plane strain simulation, differently aligned secondary bands are formed in a series of bifurcations.