Effects of strain path changes on the formability of sheet metals

Abstract

The effects of a change in strain path on the deformation characteristics of aluminum-killed steel and 2036-T4 aluminum sheets have been studied. These sheets were pre-strained various amounts in balanced biaxial tension and the resulting uniaxial proper-ties and forming limits for other loading paths were determined. In comparison to uni-axial prestrain the steel was found to suffer a more rapid loss in uniform strain upon the strain path change from biaxial to uniaxial. In contrast, the uniform strain in aluminum does not drop as rapidly after the same change. In keeping with this behavior, the form-ing limit diagram of steel is found to decrease with prestrain at a much faster rate than that of aluminum. Such effects can be explained in terms of the transition flow behavior of the metals occurring upon the path change. Thus, the path change produces strain soften-ing and premature failure in steel, while causing additional strain hardening and consequent flow stabilization in aluminum.