Instability of Superplastic Aluminium Alloys

Abstract

The influence of the strain hardening coefficient,γ,and the strain rate sensitivity exponent, m, on the onset and growth of necking has been pointed out in many models about plastic instability controlled by the mechanical properties of materials. In this paper, the instability parameter I (=(1−γ−m)/m) proposed by Hart is used to relate the values of m (=∂lnσ/∂lnέ) and γ (=∂σ/(σ·∂ε)) for some superplastic aluminium alloys. These values of m and γ were calculated from the load-elongation curve at various strain-rates in constant strain-rate tests with periodic m determinations by strain-rate departures of small magnitude. It will be shown that the strain hardening due to grain growth contributes to an increase in the stability of plastic deformation during superplastic flow. However the decrease of m due to dynamic grain growth with strain causes superplastic deformation to be unstable near the onset of fracture. The transition of I values from negative to positive coincides with a decrease in m value and flow stress. p]It is concluded that the development of necks can be characterized by an instability parameter I which include the effect of strain hardening caused by strain induced grain growth.