Experimental observations of evolving yield loci in biaxially strained AA5754-O

Experimental measurement of the plastic biaxial mechanical response for an aluminum alloy (AA5754-O) sheet metal is presented. Traditional methods of multiaxial sheet metal testing require the use of finite element analysis (FEA) or other assumptions of material response to determine the multiaxial true stress versus true strain behavior of the as-received sheet material. The method used here strives to produce less ambiguous measurements of data for a larger strain range than previously possible, through a combination of the Marciniak flat bottom ram test and an X-ray diffraction technique for stress measurement. The study is performed in conjunction with a study of the microstructural changes that occur during deformation, and these microstructural results are briefly mentioned in this work. Issues of calibration and applicability are discussed, and results are presented for uniaxial (U), plane strain (PS), and balanced biaxial (BB) extension. The results show repeatable behavior (within quantified uncertainties) for U to 20%, PS to almost 15%, and BB to above 20% in-plane strains. The results are first compared with three common yield locus models (von Mises’, Hill’48, and Hosford’79), and show some unexpected results in the shape change of the yield locus at high strain levels (>5% strain). These changes include the rotation of the locus toward the von Mises surface and elongation in the balanced biaxial direction. Comparison with a more complex yield locus model (Yld2000-2d with eight adjustable parameters) showed that the locus elongation in the biaxial direction could be fit well (for a specific level of work), but at the detriment of fit to the plane strain data. Artificially large plastic strain ratios would be needed to match both the biaxial and plane strain behavior even with this more complex model.