The evolution of yield loci with finite plastic deformation along proportional and non-proportional loading paths in an annealed extruded AZ31 magnesium alloy

Abstract

This investigation reports for the first time, the subsequent yield loci after finite plastic deformation based on 10με offset definition yield of an annealed extruded AZ31 magnesium alloy under proportional and non-proportional loading paths. The proportional loading paths comprise uniaxial tension, free end torsion, and combined tension-torsion radial paths. The tension loading followed by torsion, and torsion followed by tension are the non-proportional loading paths. Subsequent yield loci under proportional loading paths show a prominent nose in the loading direction and are almost flat in the unloading direction with evolution of significant isotropic hardening under tension and visible kinematic hardening under torsion loading path. Strong path-dependency is observed in subsequent yield loci under non-proportional loading directions along with hardening effects. All the yield loci are investigated in tension-torsion (σ₁₁-√3σ₁₂) stress space. The results are significantly different than observed for other metals, especially for aluminum alloys by Khan et al. (2009) and Iftikhar et al. (2021). Elastic moduli within each subsequent yield loci are also measured during these experiments with the increase in plastic strain. The observed small decreases in the elastic moduli with increasing plastic strains are very similar to the ones reported earlier (Iftikhar et al., 2021; Khan et al., 2009).