Local Ratcheting at the Notch Region of Non-Press-Fitted and Press-Fitted Al 7075-T6 Samples Undergoing Asymmetric Stress Cycles

Abstract

The present study evaluated the ratcheting response of notched and press-fitted Al 7075-T6 specimens under stress-controlled asymmetric cycles. The degree of the interference fit (DIF) directly influenced the magnitude and the rate of progressive plastic strain at the notch edge region. Local ratcheting at the hole–pin interference region was analyzed by means of two kinematic-hardening rules—the Ahmadzadeh–Varvani (A–V) rule and the Chaboche rule—coupled with the Neuber rule. Ratcheting strains at the notch root of aluminum samples with DIF = 0 (non-press-fitting samples) were measured and found to be the highest in magnitude. For the press-fitted samples, however, ratcheting strains dropped noticeably as the DIF increased from 1% to 2%. The press-fitting process plastically deformed the perimeter edges of the notches and improved the materials strength locally at the notch edges, resulting in better resistance against ratcheting progress. Local ratcheting strains at distances of 0.5, 1.3, and 3.0 mm from the notch roots were predicted for both pinned and unpinned samples via the hardening rules and were compared with those of measured ratcheting values. The ratcheting curves predicted by means of the A-V and Chaboche hardening rules closely agreed with the experimental data. The predicted ratcheting curves were positioned, respectively, above and below the measured ratcheting data.