Constitutive Behavior of Aluminum Alloy Sheet At High Strain Rates

Abstract

In this work, three aluminum sheet alloys, AA5754, AA5182 and AA6111, which are prime candidates for replacing mild steel in automobile structures, are tested in tension at quasi-static and high strain rates. <br /><br /> In order to characterize the constitutive response of AA5754, AA5182 and AA6111 at high strain rates, tensile experiments were carried out at strain rates between 600 s^-1 and 1500 s^-1, and at temperatures between ambient and 300°C, using a tensile split Hopkinson bar (TSHB) apparatus. As part of this research, the apparatus was modified in order to provide an improved means of gripping the sheet specimens. Quasi-static experiments also were conducted using an Instron machine. <br /><br /> The experimental data was fit to the Johnson-Cook and Zerilli-Armstrong constitutive models for all three alloys. The resulting fits were evaluated by numerically simulating the tensile experiments conducted using a finite element approach.