ICONE15-10393 MONOTONIC TENSILE PROPERTIES OF AN EXTRUDED AL ALLOY

Abstract

The extruded materials are routinely used in chemical, food and nuclear industry to enhance the structural integrity and reliability of such materials. The material composition, cleanliness, manufacturing route, heat treatment and many other factors influence the mechanical properties to a great extent. The uniaxial tensile test is a simple and versatile test to expose most of the mechanical properties required to model the system. In present study, the mechanical properties of an Al-Mg-Si alloy extruded cylinder have been determined with the help of uniaxial tensile test. The microstructural features were studied with the help of optical and scanning electron microscopes. Samples for tensile testing were cut and machined to final dimensions according to ASTM standard. The tests were conducted in displacement mode at different cross head speeds corresponding to strain rates ranging from 10^<-5> to 10^<-1> s^<-1>. All the tests were conducted in air atmosphere and at ambient temperature. The data thus obtained include: yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elastic modulus, percent elongation and reduction of area. An increase in temperature with the increase of strain rate is observed in the necking section. Monotonic tests showed slight increase in yield strength upto a strain rate of 1.33 x10^<-1> s^<-1>. However, at the maximum strain rate test, this effect diminished due to high deformation rates and resulting rise in temperature. At maximum strain rate condition, an increase of 78 % in elongation and 96 % in reduction of area is measured as compared to the slowest strain rate test. Examination of the fracture surfaces of monotonic tensile specimens in SEM showed the ductile failure with dimpled fractured surfaces.