Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Recrystallization on a Sheet of Wrought Aluminum Alloy Al 6061

Abstract

Abstract Apart from temperature and time, the deformation introduced in the material is another important parameter that affects the recryristallization process in metallic materials. The present study aims at examining the impact of the introduced deformation on recystallization and grain growth in Al 6061 alloy sheet. The deformation was introduced by hardness indentations in accordance with the Brinell test method applying two different loads. The samples with the hardness indentations were cut in half along the line on which the indentations were performed. One half served as sample providing a reference condition, while the other half was recrystallized. The grain size and the degree of misorientation (Kernel Average Misorientation, KAM) of the two neighboring measurement points were evaluated in both halves of the samples. Using the FE method, the hardness measurement procedure could be numerically simulated and the deformations which occurred beneath the hardness indentations could be evaluated and associated with experimental findings related to the grain size and the misorientation.