Shear punching of a Co20Cr20Fe20Ni20Mn15Cu5 high entropy alloy

Highlights: • The relationship between the relative clearance and the fractured morphologies of the punched-out HEA was established. • The fractured surfaces of punched-out disc are composed generally of deformation zone, fracture zone, and burr zone. • The relative clearance affects the distribution of stress states of HEA plate during shear punching process. -- Abstract: In this paper, the deformation and fracture behaviors of Co₂₀Cr₂₀Fe₂₀Ni₂₀Mn₁₅Cu₅ high entropy alloy plates in the shear punching tests were studied. The fractured surfaces of the punched-out high entropy alloy discs consist of three parts, i.e., the deformation zone, the fracture zone, and the burr zone. As the ratio of clearance to the plate thickness, i.e., the relative clearance, gradually increases, the percentages of both deformation zone height and burr zone height increase. This phenomenon was attributed to the changes of stress states during shear punching process. Meanwhile, a larger relative clearance favors more plastic deformation, generating numerous slip bands and some elongated dimples on the fractured surface.