Gyration Numbers, Fixed Points and K2

We give a formula for the Boyle-Krieger gyration numbers ofan involution in the symmetry group Aut (_A) of an even subshiftof finite type _A in terms of the number of fixed points of in the periodic orbits of _A. A relationship between gyrationnumbers, the algebraic K-theory group K₂, and the tame symbolis also discussed.     

Continuous, large strain, tension/compression testing of sheet material

Modeling sheet metal forming operations requires understanding of the plastic behavior of sheet alloys along non-proportional strain paths. Measurement of hardening under reversed uniaxial loading is of particular interest because of its simplicity of interpretation and its application to material elements drawn over a die radius. However, the compressive strain range attainable with conventional tests of this type is severely limited by buckling. A new method has been developed and optimized employing a simple device, a special specimen geometry, and corrections for friction and off-axis loading. Continuous strain reversal tests have been carried out to compressive strains greater than 0.20 following the guidelines provided for optimizing the test. The breadth of application of the technique has been demonstrated by preliminary tests to reveal the nature of the Bauschinger effect, room-temperature creep, and anelasticity after strain reversals in commercial sheet alloys.     

A dislocation density-based single crystal constitutive equation

Single crystal constitutive equations based on dislocation density (SCCE-D) were developed from Orowan’s strengthening equation and simple geometric relationships of the operating slip systems. The flow resistance on a slip plane was computed using the Burger’s vector, line direction, and density of the dislocations on all other slip planes, with no adjustable parameters. That is, the latent/self-hardening matrix was determined by the crystallography of the slip systems alone. The multiplication of dislocations on each slip system incorporated standard 3-parameter dislocation density evolution equations applied to each slip system independently; this is the only phenomenological aspect of the SCCE-D model. In contrast, the most widely used single crystal constitutive equations for texture analysis (SCCE-T) feature 4 or more adjustable parameters that are usually back-fit from a polycrystal flow curve. In order to compare the accuracy of the two approaches to reproduce single crystal behavior, tensile tests of single crystals oriented for single slip were simulated using crystal plasticity finite element modeling. Best-fit parameters (3 for SCCE-D, 4 for SCCE-T) were determined using either multiple or single slip stress–strain curves for copper and iron from the literature. Both approaches reproduced the data used for fitting accurately. Tensile tests of copper and iron single crystals oriented to favor the remaining combinations of slip systems were then simulated using each model (i.e. multiple slip cases for equations fit to single slip, and vice versa). In spite of fewer fit parameters, the SCCE-D predicted the flow stresses with a standard deviation of 14 MPa, less than one half that for the SCCE-T conventional equations: 31 MPa. Polycrystalline texture simulations were conducted to compare predictions of the two models. The predicted polycrystal flow curves differed considerably, but the differences in texture evolution were insensitive to the type of constitutive equations. The SCCE-D method provides an improved representation of single-crystal plastic response with fewer adjustable parameters, better accuracy, and better predictivity than the constitutive equations most widely used for texture analysis (SCCE-T).     

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.     

An elasto-plastic constitutive model with plastic strain rate potentials for anisotropic cubic metals

An elasto-plastic constitutive model with the plastic strain rate potential was developed for finite element analysis. In the model, isotropic-kinematic hardening was incorporated under the plane stress condition for anisotropic sheet cubic metal forming analysis. The formulation is general enough for any homogeneous plastic strain rate potential (with the first-order homogeneous effective strain rate) but the plastic strain rate potential Srp2004-18p was considered here. Attention was focused on the development of the elasto-plastic transition criterion and the effective stress update algorithm. Also, to assure the quadratic convergence rate in Newton’s method, the elasto-plastic tangent modulus was analytically derived. Accuracy and convergence of the stress update algorithm were assessed by the iso-error maps, whereas stability of the algorithm was confirmed by analytical procedure. Validations were performed for the examples of the circular cup drawing, 2D draw-bending and unconstrained cylindrical bending tests, utilizing aluminum sheet alloys.     

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.