Exceptional reversed yield strength asymmetry in a rare-earth free Mg alloy containing quasicrystal precipitates

This work reports an exceptional reversed yield strength asymmetry at room temperature for a rare-earth free magnesium alloy containing a mass of fine dispersed quasicrystal(I-phase)precipitates.Although exhibiting traditional basal texture,it owns an exceptional CYS/TYS as high as~1.17.Electron back-scattered diffraction(EBSD)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM)examinations indicate pyramidal and prismatic dislocations plus tensile twinning being activated after immediate yielding in compression while basal and non-basal dislocations in tension.I-phase particles transferred the concentrated stress by self-twinning to provide the driving force for tensile twin initiating in neighboring grains,thereby significantly increasing the critical resolved shear stress of tensile twinning to possibly the level of pyramidal slip,finally leading to the dominance of pyramidal slip plus tensile twinning in texture grains.This results in a higher contribution on yield strength by~55 MPa in compression than in tension,which reasonably agrees with the experimental yield strength difference(~38 MPa).It can be concluded that I-phase particles influence deformation modes in tension and in compression,finally result in reversed yield strength asymmetry.

Machine Learning Design of Aluminum-Lithium Alloys with High Strength

Due to the large unexplored compositional space,long development cycle,and high cost of traditional trial-anderror experiments,designing high strength aluminum-lithium alloys is a great challenge.This work establishes a performance-oriented machine learning design strategy for aluminum-lithium alloys to simplify and shorten the development cycle.The calculation results indicate that radial basis function(RBF)neural networks exhibit better predictive ability than back propagation(BP)neural networks.The RBF neural network predicted tensile and yield strengths with determination coefficients of 0.90 and 0.96,root mean square errors of 30.68 and 25.30,and mean absolute errors of 28.15 and 19.08,respectively.In the validation experiment,the comparison between experimental data and predicted data demonstrated the robustness of the two neural network models.The tensile and yield strengths of Al-2Li-1Cu-3Mg-0.2Zr(wt.%)alloy are 17.8 and 3.5 MPa higher than those of the Al-1Li4.5Cu-0.2Zr(wt.%)alloy,which has the best overall performance,respectively.It demonstrates the reliability of the neural network model in designing high strength aluminum-lithium alloys,which provides a way to improve research and development efficiency.

Improved mechanical properties and strengthening mechanism with the altered precipitate orientation in magnesium alloys

Aging prior to twinning deformation was proposed to alter the precipitate orientation of the plate-shapedβ-MgAlfrom(0002)basal planes(named basal plates)to■prismatic planes(named prismatic plates)in AZ31 Mg alloy.The experimental results showed that the compressive yield strength(CYS)of the sample containing prismatic plates increased 40 MPa and the compression ratio raised by 22%compared to that containing basal plates.The underlying strengthening mechanism was analyzed via a yield strengthen(YS)model with a function of grain size,precipitate characters(size,oritention,fraction)and Schmid factor(SF).It revealed that the improvement of CYS was mainly attributed to the altered precipitate orientation and refined grain size produced by twinning deformation.Particularly,the prismatic plates always have a stronger hardening effect on basal slip than basal plates under the same varites of precipitate diameter and SF.Besides,the decreased CRSS ratio of prismatic slip to basal slip revealed that the activity of non-basal slip in Mg alloy might be enhanced.More activated slip systems provided more mobile dislocations,contributing to the large compression ratio of the Mg rolled sheet with prismatic plates.

Microstructure,texture evolution and yield strength symmetry improvement of as-extruded ZK60 Mg alloy via multi-directional impact forging

Multi-direction impact forging(MDIF)was applied to the as-extruded ZK60 Mg alloy,and the microstructure,texture evolution and yield strength symmetry were investigated in the current study.The results showed that the average grain size of forged piece was greatly refined to 5.3μm after 120 forging passes,which was ascribed to the segmenting effect of{10–12}twins and the subsequent multiple rounds of dynamic recrystallization(DRX).A great deal of{10–12}twins were activated at the beginning of MDIF process,which played an important role in grain refinement.With forging proceeding,continuous and discontinuous DRX were successively activated,resulting in the fully DRXed microstructure.Meanwhile,the forged piece exhibited a unique four-peak texture,and the initial<10-10>//ED fiber texture component gradually evolved into multiple texture components composed of<0001>//FFD(first forging direction)and<11–20>//FFD texture.The special strain path was the key to the formation of the unique four-peak texture.The{10–12}twinning and basal slip were two dominant factors to the evolution of texture during MDIF process.Grain strengthening and dislocation strengthening were two main strengthening mechanisms of the forged piece.Besides,the symmetry of yield strength was greatly improved by MDIF process.

Magnetization-Enhanced Dislocation Motion and Decreased Yield Strength of 60Fe40Ni Alloy

Using a special constant deflection device, the changes in dislocation configuration ahead of a loaded crack tip for 60Fe40Ni alloy. before and after magnetization in a magnetic field, have been studied in TEM. The results showed that the magnetization for 60Fe40Ni alloy could enhance dislocation emission, multiplication and motion. Also, the mechanical properties of 60Fe40Ni alloy, in air and in the magnetic field respectively have been investigated using the slow strain rate tension. And the results indicated that magnetization could make the yield strength corresponding to decrease by 26 percent, but did not influence the ultimate tensile strength and the fracture strain, which showed that magnetization could enhance plastic deformation.

An Application of the Modified Shear Lag Model to Study the Influence of Thermal Residual Stresses on the Stiffness and Yield Strength of Short Fiber Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites

The modified shear lag model proposed recently was applied to calculate thermal residual stresses and subsequent stress distributions under tensile and compressive loadings. The expressions for the elastic moduli and the yield strengths under tensile and compressive loadings were derived which take account of thermal residual stresses. The asymmetries in the elastic modulus and the yield strength were interpreted using the derived expressions and the obtained results of the stress calculations. The model predictions have exhibited good agreements with the experimental results and also with the other theoretical predictions

Effect of Ti content on the yield strength of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels

The hot rolling experiment investigates into the relationship between the microstructures and the mechanical properties of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels with various Ti contents. The results indicate that the effect of the bainite fraction of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels on the yield strength of the steels is not related to Ti content, while the slope of the Hall- Petch relationship decreases with the increase of Ti content. Accordingly, the Misra model for the yield strength of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels is modified, and the factors which cause the change in the slope of Hall-Petch relationship are discussed.

THE EFFECT OF SiC PARTICLE AND WHISKER ON THE STRENGTHOF ALUMINUM ALLOY MATRIX COMPOSITES

The effects of SiC particle and whisker on the strength of aluminum alloy matrix composites have been discussed. The effects of the characteristics of discontinuons reinforcements on the strength of compsites was revealed on the basis of a review of the elastic-plastic finite element method which was applied to predict the stress-strain constituent relationship for particle and whisker reinforeed MMCs. It is snggested that the reinforcement shape or morphology, aspect ratio and distribution in the matrix should be considered in order to get more accumte numerical results. Theoretical strength analysis models predicted the trend of the strength for particle MMCs, but the theoretical results are generally lower compared with the experimental results, especially for the lower strength aluminum alloy. This is becaase strength theories did not consider the change of microstructure of reinforced matrix after particle incorpomtion. We have proposed a combined microstructure strengthening analysis, and the prediction is consistent with the eperimental results.

CALCULATION OF YIELD STRENGTH IN NICKEL BASE SINGLE CRYSTAL SUPERALLOYS

In this article, a quantitative equation was established to determine the relationship between yield strength and composition in nickel base SC superalloys based on Copley Kear precipitation strengthening model. The yield strength of two well known commercial SC superalloys calculated by this equation was compared with experimental data. It was found that the calculated yield strength of these two alloys was fairly correspondent with experimental results reported in the references. This model accurately described the solution strengthening of alloying elements and precipitation strengthening of γ′ phase. Yield strength of SC superalloys can be successfully predicted by this equation.

Unusual softening behavior of yield strength in niobium at high pressures

In situ synchrotron angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction experiments on niobium powders have been conducted at pressures up to 61 GPa and room temperature using the diamond anvil cell technique. From the full width at half maximum of the measured diffraction lines, the yield strength was derived with the line-width analysis theory. The niobium powder sample was found to be compressed more packed firstly and then yielded at~14 GPa–18 GPa. Following an initial increase in the yield strength with pressure, an obvious decrease was observed occurring at ~42 GPa–47 GPa accompanying with a typical pressure dependence above 47 GPa. The experimentally observed anomalous softening of the yield strength in niobium surprisingly follows the trend of the predicted unusual softening in the shear modulus by the recent theoretical investigations. The possible mechanisms, applicable to interpret the yield strength softening of materials at high pressure,were also discussed in detail.

SURFACE YIELD STRENGTH AND FATIGUE LIMIT FOR STEELS

The surface yield strength(σ_(ms))for various carbon steels was studied by means of X-ray diffraction method.The results showed that it is.far below the bulk yield strength,and is the resistance against plastic deformation in the surface layer.The smooth fatigue limit is associ- ated with crack initiation which is a result of accumulation of plastic deformation.Experimen- tal results showed the relation of smooth fatigue limit for 50% survival with σ_(ms)is σ_(ms)=0.81 tO 1.02 σ_(-1)for different steels.The smooth fatigue limit of a medium carbon steel for 99.9% survival with σ_(ms)is σ_(ms)=0.98 tO 1.10 σ_(-1).It is less expensive and time consuming to measure σ_(ms)than σ_(-1).

Yield strength of attached copper film

Variation of stress in attached copper film with an applied strain is measured by X-ray diffraction combined with a four-point bending method. A lower slope of the initial elastic segment of the curve of X-ray measured stress versus applied strain results from incomplete elastic strain transferred from the substrate to the film due to insufficiently strong interface cohesion. So the slope of the initial elastic segment of the X-ray stress （or X-ray strain directly） of the film against the substrate applied strain may be used to measure the film-substrate cohesive strength. The yield strength of the attached copper film is much higher than that of the bulk material and varies linearly with the inverse of the film thickness.

Effect of Nb content on strength of Nb micro-alloyed steels

Microstructures and properties of three Nb micro-alloyed steels were studied through hot rolling experiment. The result indicates that the ferrite grain size （dF ） decreases with increasing Nb content （Nb）, and the bainite fraction （fB） increases with increasing Nb content （Nb）. The effect of ferrite grain size （dF） on yield strength （δy） is related to Nb content （Nb）, and the effect of bainite fraction （fB） on yield strength （δy） is unrelated to Nb content （Nb）. Modelling of yield strength （δy） for Nb micro-alloyed steels with high accuracy has been built up with Nb content （Nb） and bainite fraction （fB） taken into account as new parameters, and formulas for ferrite grain size （dF ） and bainite fraction （fB） vs Nb content （Nb） have also been established under the experiment conditions. The research results could provide instructions for industrial productions.

Influence of recrystallized microstructure on the mechanical properties of cold rolled microalloy high strength steel

Because of the influence of Nb-educts in cold rolled Nb-microalloy high strength steel manufactured by a continuous annealing unit, different quantities of non-recrystallized ferrite exist in the material, which leads to great fluctuation of mechanical behavior of the material. In this study, the relationship between non-recrystallized ferrite and mechanical properties is analyzed, and some factors influencing the formation of non-recrystallized ferrite are also studied.

Effective Yield Strength for Material Powder Consolidated at Stage II Compaction

This work is concerned with the estimation from the outside of effective yield strength for the stage II consolidated material package of axisymmetric solid particles. Once an appropriate simple representative axisymmetric unit cell is chosen, the kinematical approach of the yield design homogenization method is used in order to obtain external estimates which has been found depending on the loading history (isostatic and closed die compactions) as well as on the relative density of the material powder. For comparison purpose, finite element simulations that describe the behavior of spherical elastic plastic particles uniformly distributed inside the material powder are carried out.

Achieving high strength and high ductility in nanostructured metals: Experiment and modelling

Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Chinagrains to a^1-martensite nanograins with bimodal grain size distribution for lower strain rates to nanotwins in the ultrafine/coarse grained austenite phase for higher strain rates. Meanwhile, we will further address the mechanism-based plastic models to describe the yield strength, strain hardening and ductility in nanostructured metals with bimodal grain size distribution and nanotwinned polycrystalline metals. The proposed theoretical models can comprehensively describe the plastic deformation in these two kinds of nanostructured metals and excellent agreement is achieved between the numerical and experimental results. These models can be utilized to optimize the strength and ductility in nanostructured metals by controlling the size and distribution of nanostructures.

A New Modification to Shear Lag Model as Applied to Stiffness and Yield Strength of Short Fiber Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites

A new modification for the shear lag model is given and the expressions for the stiffness and yield Strength of short fiber metal matri×composite are derived. These expressions are then compared with our experimental data in a SiCw/Al-Li T6 composite and the published experimental data on different SiCw/Al T6 composites and also compared with the previous shear lag models and the other theoretical models.

Assessment of Deviation in Quality of Steel Reinforcing Bars Used in Some Building Sites in Cameroon

The present work evaluated the deviations in the quality of steel reinforcing bars in terms of markings, diameter, yield strength and ductility in order to facilitate the drawing up of a yield strength value for the Cameroon National Annex to Eurocode 2. The methodology of the work started with the collection of steel samples from various active building project sites in four different towns viz: Bamenda, Douala, Maroua and Yaoundé and testing their tensile strength and elongation using a Universal Testing Machine and also carrying out the bending test. Results show that bars without marked manufacturer’s name fell all the tests. Other results show that 52% of all the steel had yield stresses below 400 Mpa and the highest deviation in the yield strengths was 22.50%. The study recommends that properly marked grade 500 steel bars should be adopted in the Cameroon national annex to Eurocode 2.

Weld Joint Efficiency of the Kazakhstani Constructional Steel

In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the regulatory framework in construction based on Eurocodes has been in force since 2015. However, Kazakhstani produced steel has not been studied for compliance with the requirements of Eurocode 1993. This has resulted in limited use of Kazakhstani structural steel in construction. The feasibility of using structural steel in welded joints has been experimentally investigated. To verify the application of such joints in construction, including earthquake engineering, experimental studies of welded joints made of structural steel produced by Arcelor-Mittal in Temirtau have been carried out. In total, 7 types of structural steel of various thicknesses were selected. Five specimens have been used in each series of tests. The Brinell hardness values of the weld joint, yield strength of steel and tensile strength, relative rupture strain were determined. It was found that for all types of structural steel, the quality of weld joints complied with the requirements of Eurocode 1993—a sample rupture appeared along the plates (main body of the metal), not along the weld joints. It has been established that structural steel produced in the Republic of Kazakhstan fully complies with the requirements of Eurocode 1993. The studies on the dependence of Brinell hardness values of weld joint steel on the yield strength, tensile strength and relative rupture strain have been carried out. The correlation dependences between the values of yield strength of steel and tensile strength, relative rupture strain and BH Brinell hardness were studied. The results of work will allow for significantly increasing the use of Kazakhstani structural steel in seismic and conventional areas of the Republic of Kazakhstan.