Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Al-Mg-Si Alloys Extruded Parts

Abstract

Over the past years, Al-Mg-Si alloys have been largely applied in automotive industry, which has required a deep knowledge of their mechanical properties and the influence of precipitates distribution on their mechanical behavior. This work evaluated the main mechanical properties of AA6005, AA6063, and AA6351 alloys by means of tensile and low cycle fatigue tests with 0.005 seg^-1 deformation rate and 0.3% < ε_at <1.2% strain amplitudes. Besides, the hysteresis loop and internal stress analysis were investigated to analyze hardening and softening phenomena and to evaluate the friction and back stresses, respectively. Macro and microstructural were performed focusing in intermetallic distribution. Concerning the low cycle fatigue behavior, AA6351 presented shorter lives for strain amplitudes higher than 0.5%, and AA6005 showed the highest fatigue strength and fatigue ductility. AA6063 showed the lowest fatigue strength due to the presence of coarse particles (Fe,Mn)SiAl. During internal stress analysis, the highest value of friction stress for AA6351 indicates the effect of hardener precipitates are the most relevant role for cyclic loadings and the lowest back-to-friction stress ratio indicating that deformation is controlled by particles. In the other hand, AA6063 showed the lowest friction stress due to low amount of fine precipitates.

Keywords:
Al-Mg-Si alloys; low cycle fatigue; internal stress; cyclic hardening; cyclic softening