Influence of Temperature and Strain Rate on the Mechanical Behaviour of Aluminium Alloy AA6060

Abstract

In an attempt to improve the constitutive models for 6xxx aluminium alloys at high temperatures and high strain rates, a comprehensive test series has been carried out for AA6060. Uniaxial tension tests were performed at various strain rates from 0.01 s-1 to 1000 s-1 and temperatures from 20 °C to 350 °C. The tests were carried out using a standard tensile machine for low to moderate strain rates and a split-Hopkinson tension bar (SHTB) system for high strain rates. In both cases, an induction apparatus was used to heat the sample while local deformation measurements were obtained with a high-speed camera and used to estimate the true strain beyond necking. Strong coupling between the influence of strain rate and temperature on the stress-strain behaviour was found. At room temperature, the strain rate has a minor effect on the behaviour of AA6060. On the other hand, a significant increase of the yield stress and work-hardening with strain-rate is observed for temperatures above (K), being the melting temperature; i.e., above 673 K.