Mechanical response of 6061-T6 aluminium alloy subjected to dynamic testing at low temperature: Experiment and modelling

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate an effect of low temperature on the mechanical properties and microstructure of 6061-T6 aluminium alloy (AA6061-T6) subjected to dynamic loading. The specimens were subjected to dynamic compression at a low temperature of −80 °C in a range of strain rates from 1.25 × 103 1/s to 3.4 × 103 1/s to compare their mechanical responses. The deformation mechanisms were analysed through EBSD observations during which dynamic recovery, was found as the dominant one. Furthermore, microstructural analysis indicated that deformation under high strain rate conditions and temperature of -80 °C enables to keep the constant initial grain size of the material after the loading applied. The material behaviour was modelled using mechanism-based viscoplastic constitutive equations. Furthermore, an accuracy of the developed model was validated by comparing it to experimental data. The set of constitutive equations proposed has been successful in modelling the stress-strain behaviour of the material for the range of strain rates and temperatures encountered in aluminium-forming processes under low-temperature conditions.