The Influence of Strain Rate Variations on the Appearance of Serrated Yielding in 2024-T3 Al-Clad Aluminium Alloy

To avoid failure during the stretch forming process using manual control, machine operators tend to achieve the final form using a stop-start approach. It was observed that when approaching full form, stretcher-strain marks appeared on the surface of the part if the operator stopped and restarted the forming operation. In order to investigate this phenomenon, a series of tensile tests was conducted using two batches of 2024-T3 aluminium alloy. The specimens were tested using several different strain rates, representative of those used on the shop floor. Additional tests were conducted involving a series of pauses under displacement control at differing levels of strain and strain rate. In the uninterrupted tests for the two batches of 2024-T3 material tested, serrated yielding was observed just prior to failure. However for the tests in which there was a pause in displacement, the material consistently exhibited serrated yielding when the crosshead began to move again. These results indicate that the pause provides an opportunity for strain ageing and pinning of the dislocations resulting in serrated yielding of this alloy. In order to avoid serrated yielding, stretch forming operations using 2024-T3 aluminium should be conducted at a constant strain rate without interruption. This also has far reaching implications for those involved in the production and testing of these alloys. The test programme described represents an initial attempt to investigate a phenomenon noted during an industrial forming process and should be extended to analyse the affect of strain path changes on the occurrence of serrated yielding