Morphology of adiabatic shear bands in cylindrical specimens of AISI 4340 steel impacted by Hopkinson pressure bar

Abstract

Cylindrical specimens of AISI 4340 steel, which were heat treated by quenching in oil followed by tempering at either 315 or 425°C, were impacted in a Hopkinson pressure bar at different impacting speeds. It was found that when strain and strain rate reached certain values, adiabatic shear bands (or plastic deformation zones) were formed in the specimens. The adiabatic shear bands appeared either in a circle on the transverse section, a hyperbola on different longitudinal sections without the central axis of the cylinder, and a triangle on the longitudinal section through the central axis of the cylinder. From these observations, it can be concluded that the plastic deformation localisation zone is limited in a thin conical shell in three dimensions. It was further confirmed that the adiabatic shear bands initiated along the maximum shear stress directions. In addition, the adiabatic shear bands in the specimens tempered at 315°C appeared white, while those in specimens tempered at 425°C had deformation characteristics. This indicates that the appearance of adiabatic shear bands is related to the hardness and microstructure of the tested steel.     

Effects of ferrite grain size and martensite volume fraction on dynamic deformation behaviour of 0·15C–2·0Mn–0·2Si dual phase steels

Abstract

Effects of ferrite grain size and martensite volume fraction on quasistatic and dynamic deformation behaviour of 0·15C–2·0Mn–0·2Si dual phase steels were investigated in this study. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted on six steel specimens that had different ferrite grain sizes and martensite volume fractions, using a torsional Kolsky bar, and then the test data were compared in terms of microstructures, tensile properties, fracture mode, and adiabatic shear band formation. Under dynamic torsional loading, maximum shear stress and fracture shear strain increased with decreasing ferrite grain size and increasing martensite volume fraction. Observation of the deformed area beneath the fracture surface after the dynamic torsional test indicated that adiabatic shear bands of 5 to 15 μm in width were formed along the shear stress direction, and that voids or microcracks initiated at ferrites or martensite/ferrite interfaces below the shear band. The width of the shear band decreased as the ferrite grain size increased or the martensite volume fraction decreased. These phenomena were then analysed by introducing concepts of theoretical critical shear strain.     

Thermoplastic shear localisation in titanium alloys during dynamic deformation

Abstract

Cylindrical specimens (4 mm diameter and 4 mm height) of titanium alloy bar were given various heat treatments to provide a wide range of microstructures and mechanical parameters. These specimens were then subjected to high plastic strain at a large strain rate (10³ s^-1 ) during dynamic compression by a split Hopkinson bar at ambient temperature. The microstructures of the localised shear bands were examined by optical and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that there are two types of localised shear bands: deformed and white shear bands. A detailed observation reveals that there is no difference in the nature of the deformed and white shear bands, but they occur at different stages of localised deformation. It is found that there is a burst of strain, corresponding to a critical strain rate at which the white shear band occurs and no phase transformation occurs in the shear bands.     

Effect of processing parameters on shear bands in non-isothermal hot forging of Ti -6Al -4V

Abstract

The alloy system Ti- 6Al- 4V is the prominent Ti alloy system for aerospace and biomedical applications, as a result of its mechanical property balance and biocompatibility. Since the mechanical characterisation of Ti- 6Al- 4V is strongly sensitive to processing parameters there is relationship between processing variables, i.e. strain rate and temperature, microstructure, and properties under different loading conditions. Two phase (α + β) titanium alloys undergo flow instabilities and are susceptible to shear bands or regions of localised deformation crossing many grains during hot forging under non-isothermal conditions (dies and workpiece at different temperatures). Under such conditions shear bands can be generated even in materials without flow softening attributes. This occurs if the forging parameters lead to large amounts of heat transfer between the dies and the workpiece. This study investigates the occurrence of shear bands during non-isothermal, hot forging of Ti -6Al- 4V in order to evaluate the process parameters that generally lead to shear bands in conventional hot forging of metals. Upset compression tests on cylindrical specimens were conducted in a mechanical press and lateral side pressing tests on long, round bars were performed in either a mechanical press or a hydraulic press. The tests ranged from axisymmetric to plane strain compression. In upset specimens shear bands occurred at an angle of 45° to the compression axis and bands of intense deformation separated chill zones from the deforming bulk. Observation also demonstrated that the fracture might be owing to microvoids nucleated at weak points in sections of the shear surfaces. For plane strain deformation, shear bands were found to initiate along zero extension directions in a manner analogous to the formation and propagation of shear bands in isothermal hot forging. Although the shear band features at hot forging temperatures were similar to each other, there was a difference in the hardness and thickness of the shear bands depending on deformation mode, amount, and temperature.     

Deformation, Phase Transformation and Recrystallization in the Shear Bands Induced by High-Strain Rate Loading in Titanium and Its Alloys

α-titanium and its alloys with a dual-phase structure (α β) were deformed dynamically under strain rate of about 104 s-1. The formation and microstructural evolution of the localized shear bands were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results reveal that both the strain and strain rate should be considered simultaneously as the mechanical conditions for shear band formation, and twinning is an important mode of deformation. Both experimental and calculation show that the materials within the bands underwent a superhigh strain rate (9×105 s-1) deformation, which is two magnitudes of that of average strain rate required for shear band formation; the dislocations inthe bands can be constricted and developed into cell structures; the phase transformation from α to α2 within the bands was observed, and the transformation products (α2) had a certain crystallographic orientation relationship with their parent; the equiaxed grains with an average size of 10μm in diameter observed within the bands are proposed to be the results of recrystallization.     

Relationship between microstructure and deformation behaviour during dynamic compression in Ti–3Al–5Mo–5V alloy

Abstract

The relationship between microstructure and deformation and damage behaviour during dynamic compression in Ti–3Al–5Mo–5V alloy has been studied using several experimental techniques, including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and microhardness measurements. It was found that the deformation behaviour during dynamic compression was closely related to deformation parameters. After dynamic deformation, the deformation shear band that formed in the titanium alloy had microhardness similar to that of the matrix. However, the microhardness of the white shear band was much higher than the matrix microhardness. The effects of deformation parameters, including deformation rate and deformation degree, on deformation localisation were investigated. Based on the results from the present work, the microstructure and deformation processing parameters can be optimised. In addition, treatment methods after dynamic compression were explored to restore alloy properties. Using post-deformation heat treatment, the microstructure and property inhomogeneity caused by shear bands could be largely removed.     

Effects of prestrain and strain rate on dynamic deformation characteristics of 304L stainless steel: Part 1—Mechanical behaviour

Abstract

A split Hopkinson bar is used to investigate the effects of prestrain and strain rate on the dynamic mechanical behaviour of 304L stainless steel, and these results are correlated with microstructure and fracture characteristics. Annealed 304L stainless steel is prestrained to strains of 0·15, 0·3, and 0·5, then machined as cylindrical compression specimens. Dynamic mechanical tests are performed at strain rates ranging from 10² to 5 × 10³ s^-1 at room temperature, with true stains varying from 0·1 to 0·3. It was found that 304L stainless steel is sensitive to applied prestrain and strain rate, with flow stress increasing with increasing prestrain and strain rate. Work hardening rate, strain rate sensitivity, and activation volume depend strongly on the variation of prestrain, strain, and strain rate. At larger prestrain and higher strain rate, work hardening rate decreases rapidly owing to greater heat deformation enhancement of plastic flow instability at dynamic loading. Strain rate sensitivity increases with increasing prestrain and work hardening stress (σ-σ_y). However, activation volume exhibits the reverse tendency. Catastrophic fracture is found only for 0·5 prestrain, 0·3 strain, and strain rate of 4·8 × 10³ s^-1. Large prestrain increases the resistance to plastic flow but decreases fracture elongation. Optical microscopy and SEM fracture feature observations reveal adiabatic shear band formation is the dominant fracture mechanism. Adiabatic shear band void and crack formation is along the direction of maximum shear stress and induces specimen fracture.     

Deformation of sintered copper and 50Cu–50Fe mixture to large strains by cyclic extrusion and compression

Abstract

Sintered compacts of copper and a 50Cu–50Fe mixture have been plastically deformed to large strains (total strain ?_t=13·8) by cyclic extrusion and compression. The hardness changes after deformation indicate that no further work hardening occurs with either material when ?_t>4·6. With copper, strain accommodation at large strains would appear to occur solely by dynamic recovery and recrystallisation. With the Cu–Fe mixture, shear banding is still found at the highest strains used.

MST/1609     

Investigation of quenching effect on mechanical property and abrasive wear behaviour of high boron cast steel

Abstract

The effect of quenching temperature from 900 to 1050°C on the microstructures, mechanical properties and abrasion resistance of modified high born cast steel containing 0·3 wt-%C and 3·0 wt-%B was studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, tensile tester, impact tester, hardness tester and abrasion tester. Quenching at 900°C resulted in structures containing a small amount of pearlite. The existence of pearlite led to poor hardness and wear resistance of modified high born cast steel. Quenching at temperatures between 900 and 950°C resulted in the decrease in pearlite and the increase in hardness and abrasion resistance in comparison with 900°C quenching. The metallic matrix all transformed into the martensite quenching at 1000°C; the modified high born cast steel had high hardness, tensile strength, impact toughness and excellent abrasion resistance. The hardness, tensile strength and impact toughness of modified high born cast steel had no obvious change quenching over 1000°C. The increase in quenching temperature also led to the transformation of boride from continuous shape to isolated shape and promoted the coarsening of boride.     

Characterisation of severely deformed austenitic stainless steel wire

Abstract

The microstructure of 8 μm diameter wire produced by the severe deformation of 316L austenitic stainless steel has been examined using TEM and X-ray diffraction. The deformation imparted amounts to a true strain of 6·3. Data from previous studies on strain induced transformation of this steel have been combined with new results to show that true strains >2 are required in order to observe mechanical stabilisation, i.e. the cessation of martensitic transformation when the martensite/austenite interfaces are unable to propagate through the dislocation debris created in the austenite.     

Correlation of microstructure and fracture properties of five centrifugal cast high speed steel rolls

Abstract

The present study is concerned with effects of microstructural factors such as distribution and fraction of coarse carbides located along solidification cell boundaries and characteristics of tempered martensitic matrix on fracture properties of five high speed steel (HSS) rolls manufactured by a centrifugal casting method. In situ microfracture observation, fracture toughness measurement and fractographic observation were conducted on these rolls to clarify fracture mechanisms. The in situ observation results indicated that coarse carbides located along cell boundaries provided easy intercellular fracture sites under a low stress intensity factor level. In the rolls whose intercellular carbide fraction and matrix hardness were high, fracture easily occurred under a low stress intensity factor. On the contrary, in the rolls where a small amount of intercellular carbides was distributed on the relatively ductile matrix of lath tempered martensite, the fracture path was accompanied by a considerable amount of plastic deformation including shear band formation, thereby resulting in high fracture toughness. In order to obtain better microstructure, hardness and fracture toughness of the HSS rolls, the minimisation of intercellular carbides, the refinement of carbides and the improvement of the matrix characteristics by controlling alloying elements and heat treatment conditions were suggested.     

Slip processes in the deformation of polystyrene

Two slip processes are characterized in the deformation of atactic polystyrene by compression. In the optical microscope, one appears as intensive shear bands and the other as diffuse shear zones. But in the electron microscope, the latter reveals itself in the form of two sets of numerous, fine, discontinuous shear bands intersecting at nearly right angles. In addition to their differences in appearance, the coarse slip band propagates fast along a localized path, inclines at less than 45 with the compression axis, and invariably produces shear fracture when it extends across the specimen. On the other hand, the fine slip bands spread slowly by multiplication mainly along the maximum shear stress direction, contribute to almost all the macroscopic strain and cause shape changes of the specimen. Hence the coarse band process is a brittle mode and the fine band process a ductile mode. The relative abundance of these bands depends on the thermal history of the specimen, the loading condition, and the deformation temperature. The average shear strain inside either band is about 1.5 and is recoverable upon annealing.     

Investigation on hot deformation of 20Cr–25Ni superaustenitic stainless steel with starting columnar dendritic microstructure based on kinetic analysis and processing map

Abstract

The deformation behaviour of a 20Cr–25Ni superaustenitic stainless steel (SASS) with initial microstructure of columnar dendrites was investigated using the hot compression method at temperatures of 1000–1200°C and strain rates of 0·01–10 s^?1. It was found that the flow stress was strongly dependent on the applied temperature and strain rate. The constitutive equation relating to the flow stress, temperature and stain rate was proposed for hot deformation of this material, and the apparent activation energy of deformation was calculated to be 516·7 kJ mol^?1. Based on the dynamic materials model and the Murty’s instability criterion, the variations of dissipation efficiency and instability factor with processing parameters were studied. The processing map, combined with the instability map and the dissipation map, was constructed to demonstrate the relationship between hot workability and microstructural evolution. The stability region for hot processing was inferred accurately from the map. The optimum hot working domains were identified in the respective ranges of the temperature and the strain rate of 1025–1120°C and 0·01–0·03 s^?1 or 1140–1200°C and 0·08–1 s^?1, where the material produced many more equiaxed recrystallised grains. Moreover, instability regimes that should be avoided in the actual working were also identified by the processing map. The corresponding instability was associated with localised flow, adiabatic shear band, microcracking and free surface cracks.     

Microstructural evolution and flow behaviour during hot compression of twin roll cast ZK60 magnesium alloy

Abstract

Microstructural evolution and flow behaviour during hot compression of twin roll cast ZK60 magnesium alloy were characterised by employing deformation temperatures of 300, 350 and 400°C and strain rate ranging from 10^?3 to 100 s^?1. When compressed at 10^?3 s^?1, all stress–strain curves at different temperatures (300, 350 and 400°C) showed a flow softening behaviour due to active dynamic recrystallisation. When compressed at 10^?2 s^?1 and elevated temperatures (300, 350 and 400°C), all stress–strain curves showed a flow stress drop after peak stress due to twinning for 300 and 350°C deformation and recrystallisation for 400°C deformation. The balance between shear deformation and recrystallisation resulted in a steady flow behaviour after the true strain reached 0·22. When strain rate increased to 10^?1 s^?1, a small fraction of dynamic recrystallisation in shear deformation region was responsible for slight flow softening behaviour during compression. A flow hardening appeared due to basal and non-basal slips when deformed at 100 s^?1. It is suggested that the flow behaviour during hot compression of twin roll cast ZK60 alloy depends on the separating effect or combined effects of shear deformation, twinning and recrystallisation.     

Plastic flow and microstructural evolution in Ti–6Al–2Zr–1Mo–1V alloys during hot deformation

Abstract

The hot deformation behaviour and microstructural evolution in Ti–6Al–2Zr–1Mo–1V alloys have been studied using isothermal hot compression tests. The processing map was developed at a true strain of 0·7 in the temperature range 750–950°C and strain rate range 0·001–10 s^?1. The corresponding microstructures were characterised by means of a metallurgical microscope. Globularisation of lamellae occurring to a greater extent in the range 780–880°C and 0·001–0·01 s^?1 had a peak power dissipation efficiency of 58% at about 850°C and 0·001 s^?1. The specimens deformed in 750–880°C and 0·01–10 s^?1 showed an instability region of processing map, whereas the specimens deformed in 880–950°C and 1–10 s^?1 indicated three kinds of flow instabilities, i.e. macro shear cracks, prior beta boundary cracks and flow localisation bands.     

Methanol crazing of coarse shear bands in polystyrene

A specimen with coarse shear bands produced at stress concentrations by compression was immersed in methanol to observe craze formation. Thin crazes were initiated at shear bands and joined together while propagating to form thick crazes. Crazes were formed only on the tension side of shear bands with the craze planes perpendicular to the shear bands. When a craze propagated through a shear band, each displaced the other at intersections. Some secondary shear bands were transformed partly into crazes resulting in about a factor of ten increase in thickness. This transformation was achieved by a tensile deformation of fibrous sheets in the shear band with simultaneous production of fine fibres.     

高应变速率下TC11钛合金动态剪切行为与性能

采用分离式霍普金森压杆（Hopkinson Bar）装置系统,对TC11钛合金进行室温高应变速率（700-2100s^-1）动态剪切试验,通过光学显微镜、显微硬度分析仪、扫描电镜研究了TC11钛合金动态剪切行为、绝热剪切带微观组织与性能。结果表明：TC11钛合金随应变速率的提高绝热剪切敏感性增加;绝热剪切带由过渡区域的变形拉长组织和中间部位的细小晶粒组织组成,具有清晰的剪切变形流线,宽度约为10μm;绝热剪切带内的显微硬度值高于基体组织,是,由应变速率强化和应变强化与热软化相互作用的结果。     

Production of Si55 Al20 Fe10 Ni5 Cr5 Zr5 bulk amorphous alloy by hot pressing

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the relative density was examined for a Si₅₅ Al₂₀ Fe₁₀ Ni₅ Cr₅ Zr₅ alloy which was produced by hot pressing of the amorphous powder during heating up to various temperatures under a critical pressure of 1·5 GPa through a heating/pressing cycle. The density of the compacts increased with increasing temperature and reached a maximum near the crystallisation temperature of 698 K. The relative density of the compacts reached 98·3% at the critical condition of 1·5 GPa and 687 K. The hardness value of the bulk specimen was 940 HV(10 gf, 0·098 N), corresponding to that of the amorphous ribbon. Exposure to higher temperatures resulted in the precipitation of the crystalline phase. The present results indicate that Si based alloys can be produced in a compact form with a low fraction of voids by hot pressing the amorphous powder.     

Effect of aging on high strain rate and high temperature properties of 7075 aluminium alloy

Abstract

The high strain rate and high temperature properties of as cast and aged 7075 aluminium alloy were examined by metallographic observation and by means of a split Hopkinson bar test at temperatures between 25 and 300°C and at strain rates of 1·3 × 10³ and 3·1 × 10³ s^-1. The effect of aging, as well as strain rate and temperature, on the dynamic mechanical response, microstructure evolution, and fracture characteristics are presented. The compressive stress–strain response of as cast and aged 7075 alloy is found to depend strongly on both the applied strain rate and the test temperature. However, the aged material is generally found to be stronger than the as cast material. The work hardening rate is seen to decrease with increasing strain, strain rate, and temperature, and its value is higher in the aged material than in the as cast material. Microscopic observation shows that aging, strain rate, and temperature have a significant influence on the microstructural evolution and the changes in grain morphologies. The average grain size can be expressed by a Hall–Petch type relationship after impact deformation. Fracture surface examination revealed that a high strain rate favours the formation of deformed shear bands that are precursors to crack formation and fracture. The aged material has a better ductility owing to the higher percentage of transgranular fracture and an increased density of microdimples.     

Evolution of Thermoplastic Shear Localization and Related Microstructures in Al／SiCp Composites Under Dynamic Compression

The localized shear deformation in the 2024 and 2124 Al matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles was investigated with a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) at a strain rate of about 2.0×103 s-1. The results showed that the occurrence of localized shear deformation is sensitive to the size of SiC particles. It was found that the critical strain, at which the shear localization occurs, strongly depends on the size and volume fraction of SiC particles. The smaller the particle size, the lower the critical strain required for the shear localization. TEM examinations revealed that Al/SiCp interfaces are the main sources of dislocations. The dislocation density near the interface was found to be high and it decreases with the distance from the particles. The Al matrix in shear bands was highly deformed and severely elongated at low angle boundaries. The AI/SiCp interfaces, particularly the sharp corners of SiC particles, provide the sites for microcrack initiation. Eventual fracture is caused by the g