Behaviour of Al6061-T6 alloy at different temperatures and strain-rates: Experimental characterization and material modelling

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 734; pp. 318 - 328
• Main Authors: Scapin, M., Manes, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 12.09.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Al6061 T6; Aluminum base alloys; Computer simulation; Deformation; Dependence; Finite element method; Hopkinson Tension Bar; Johnson-Cook model; Mathematical models; Mechanical analysis; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Parameter identification; Plastic flow; Reverse engineering; Reverse engineering approach; Strain analysis; Strain rate; Thermal softening; Titanium alloys; Johnson-Cook model; Reverse engineering approach; Thermal softening; Strain-rate; Hopkinson Tension Bar; Al6061 T6
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2018.08.011

The simulation of impact scenario against a structure requires the use of material models able to reproduce all aspects of the mechanical behaviour of the involved materials; plastic flow is one of the main aspects to be reproduced. In more detail, attention has to be paid to the investigation of strain-rate and temperature sensitivities, as well as their interaction, which necessitates the use of a reverse engineering approach. The present paper mainly focuses on the tensile behaviour and an ad-hoc testing campaign was performed on cylindrical dog-bone specimens made in Al6061T6 at different temperatures and strain-rates extending the range up to a level where, at present, there is a lack in the scientific literature. The thermal softening effect was investigated in quasi-static as well as in dynamic loading conditions from room temperature up to 400 °C; while the material strength dependence on the strain-rate was studied up to 104 s−1 on miniaturized samples. Microstructure analyses were performed to better investigate the mechanical response at different loading conditions. The parameters of the Johnson-Cook model were identified starting from experimental data via a numerical inverse approach based on FEM simulations. These parameters can be used for simulations of extreme loading scenario like ballistic impact events.