Tensile and Compressive Properties of Mg-3Al-2Zn-2Y Alloy at Different Strain Rates

The tensile and compressive properties of Mg-3Al-2Zn-2Y alloy at room temperature at strain rates in the range of 0.001-1400 s^?1 and 0.001-4800 s^?1, respectively, were investigated. The ultimate strength in tension tests has positive effect to strain rate, while that in compression tests has positive effect at strain rates in the range of 0.001-1800 s^?1 and negative effect when the strain rate increases to 4800 s^?1. The strain rate sensitivity of ultimate strength is different for tension and compression. To both tension and compression, the density of dislocation increases with increasing of strain rate and parallel dislocations come being at high strain rate. A large number of twins appear when the strain rate increases to certain degree. The fracture characteristics change from quasi-cleavage to ductile fracture as tensile strain rate increases, while the compression strain rate has little influence on the fracture characteristics.