Studies on flow stress behaviour prediction of AZ31B alloy: Microstructural evolution and fracture mechanism
Aarjoo Jaimin, Nitin Kotkunde, Swadesh Kumar Singh, Kuldeep K. Saxena
Abstract
The hot tensile flow behaviour of the AZ31B alloy is investigated at various deformation temperatures (200–350 °C) and strain rates (0.1s−1, 0.01s−1, and 0.001s−1). The deformation condition significantly influenced the mechanical properties and microstructural evolution. Observation from the tensile tests indicated a strong dependence of flow stress on deformation temperature and strain rates. At a constant strain rate, flow stress decreased as the temperature increased, while at a constant deformation temperature, flow stress decreased with decreasing strain rates. The strain rate sensitivity varies from 0.01 to 0.25, suggesting a diffusion-controlled dislocation climb mechanism. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) initiation was observed at 250 °C and a strain rate of 0.001s−1, characterized by the formation of necklace-type grains with low pole intensity. Predominantly, the DRX softening mechanism, including continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX), was observed at 350 °C and 300 °C for a strain rate of 0.001s−1. Fracture morphology analysis of the tested samples indicated a micro-void coalescence mechanism. Equiaxed dimples were found at 350 °C and a strain rate of 0.001s−1, while oval-shaped dimples were observed at 300 °C and 0.1s−1. A strain-compensated Arrhenius model was incorporated to estimate the flow stress prediction for hardening and softening regions. Statistical parameters such as the average absolute relative error (AARE = 13.50) and coefficient of determination (R = 0.97) were calculated. Good agreement between experimental and prediction stresses was achieved at a 0.001s−1 strain rate for all deformation temperatures.