Effects of external stress aging on morphology and precipitation behavior of θ'' phase in Al-Cu alloy

The exposure of Al-5Cu alloy to an external stress with normal aging was carried out. The effects of external stress-aging on the morphology and precipitation behavior of θ＂ phase were investigated by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, differential scanning calorimetry （DSC） and first principle calculation. The size of the θ＂ phase precipitated plates in stress-aging （453 K, 6 h, 50 MPa） is 19.83 nm, which is smaller than that of those present （28.79 nm） in stress-flee aging （453 K, 6 h）. The precipitation process of θ＂ phase is accelerated by loading external stress aging according to the analysis of DSC results. The apparent activation energy for the external stress-aging is 10% lower than the stress-free one. The first principle calculation results show that the external stress makes a decrease of 6% in the interface energy. The effects of the stress on aging process of the alloy are discussed on the basis of the classical theory. The external stress changes the morphology and precipitation behavior of θ＂ phase because the critical nucleation energy is decreased by 19% under stress aging.

Microstructure and property of stress aged Al-Cu single crystal under various applied stresses

The stress aging behavior of Al-Cu alloy under various applied stresses, i.e., elastic stress, yield stress and plasticdeformation stress, was investigated using single crystals. The resulting microstructures and the yield strength were examined bytransmission electron microscopy （TEM） and compression tests, respectively. The results indicate that an elastic stress of 15 MPa ishigh enough to influence the precipitation distribution of θ′ during aging at 180℃. The applied stress loading along [116]Aldirection results in increased number density of θ′ on （001）Al habit planes. This result becomes more significant with increasingapplied stress and leads to lower yield strength of Al-Cu single crystals during aging. Moreover, the generation of the preferentialorientation of θ′ was discussed by the effect of the dislocation induced by applied stress as well as the role of the misfit between theθ′-precipitate and Al matrix. The results are in agreement with the effect of the latter one.

Stress/strain aging mechanisms in Al alloys from first principles

First-principles based calculations were carried out to explore the possible mechanisms of stress/strain aging in Al alloys. Potential effects of temperature and external stress/strain were evaluated on the solvus boundary of Al3Se in Al-Sc alloy, and the interface energy of Al/θ＂ in Al-Cu alloys. Results show that applying tensile strain/stress during conventional aging can significantly decrease the solubility entropy, by red-shifting the phonon DOS at high states. The resulted solvus boundary would shift up on the phase diagram, suggesting a reduced solubility limit and an increased maximum possible precipitation volume of AlaSc in Al-Sc alloy. Moreover, the applied strain/stress has different impacts on the formation energies of different orientated Al/θ＂ interfaces in Al-Cu alloys, which can be further exaggerated by the Poisson effect, and eventually affect the preferential precipitation orientation in Al-Cu alloy. Both mechanisms are expected to play important roles during stress/strain aging.

Constitutive modeling and springback prediction of stress relaxation age forming of pre-deformed 2219 aluminum alloy

Stress relaxation ageing behavior of pre-deformed AA2219 is studied through stress relaxation age experiments and finite element(FE) simulation. The results show that the stress can promote the process of ageing precipitation, and shorten the time to reach the peak strength. Meanwhile,the residual stress and yield strength increase along with the increase in the initial stress. Based on microstructure evolution and ageing strengthening theory,a unified constitutive model is established and incorporated into the FE simulation model through a user subroutine. It is found that the relative error of the radius is 3.6% compared with the experimental result and the springback is 16.8%. This indicates that the proposed stress relaxation ageing constitutive model provides a good prediction on the springback of such stiffened panel during its ageing process.

Correlation of Cooperatively Localized Rearrangement on the ＂Fluidized Domain＂ of Polymers to Their Nonexponentially Viscoelastic Behavior and Lifetime at Double Aging Processes II： Estimation of Long-term Mechanical Behavior and Lifetime of Polymeric Materials from Short-time Creep and Stress Relaxation Tests

Three kinds of polymeric materials are taken as example for the verification of linear ex-trapolation method from unified master lines with reduced universal equations on creep and stress relaxation tests. The theoretical values of long-term mechanical behavior and lifetime for a cured epoxide, polypropylene, poly（methyl-methacrylate）, and SBR rubber are directly evaluated with the universal equations on reduced creep compliance and reduced stress relax-ation modulus and are compared with their predicted values by the linear extrapolation from the unified master lines of creep and stress relaxation. The results show that the theoretical values of dimensional stability, bearing ability and lifetime are in an excellent agreement with the predicted values, it shows that the linear extrapolation method is more simple and reliable. The dependences of long-term mechanical behaviors and lifetime on the different aging times are discussed.

THE APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL PARAMETERS OF PHASE RESOLVED PD DISTRIBUTION TO AGING EXTENT ASSESSMENT OF LARGE GENERATOR INSULATION

Objective To investigate the characteristic parameters employed to describe the aging extent of stator insulation of large generator and study the aging laws. Methods Multi stress aging tests of model generator stator bar specimens were performed and PD measurements were conducted using digital PD detector with frequency range from 40?kHz to 400?kHz at different aging stage. Results From the test results of model specimens it was found that the skewness of phase resolved PD distribution might be taken as the characterization parameters for aging extent assessment of generator insulation. Furthermore, the measurement results of actual generator stator bars showed that the method based on statistical parameters of PD distributions are prospective for aging extent assessment and residual lifetime estimation of large generator insulation. Conclusion Statistical parameters of phase resolved PD distribution was proposed for aging extent assessment of large generator insulation.

The Physiopathological Crossroads of Aging

Stress, inflammation and Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) are key mechanisms throughout the development of aging, constituting a crossroad in the most frequent pathologies that accompany it. Among metabolic processes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus are included and Alzheimer’s disease among the neurodegenerative processes. Stress is a mechanism of defense of the organism against exogenous and endogenous actions called stressors. In the case of low intensity stimuli, the organism responds with actions aimed at a physiological adaptation (Homeostasis). On the other hand, when a high intensity (experimental level) or chronic stimulus (oxidative stress) is repeated, structural and functional changes are observed in different organs with activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, the renin angiotensin system and the sympathetic nervous system, stimulating the production of hormones that release cytokines with proin-flammatory/antiinflammatory properties that play an important role in the previously mentioned pathologies, as well as a marked increase in PAI-1, a gene regulated by stress and by cytokines, with manifest action at the origin of thromboembolic disease, so frequent in aging. The objective of this review is to highlight the importance of the binomial stress and PAI-1 in aging and in the pathologies that accompany it. Because PAI-1 is part of the pathology and complications in aging, some authors suggest the study of PAI-1 inhibitors to achieve its physiological levels, as part of the treatment of these diseases.

Effect of Hf on Stress Rupture Properties of DD6 Single Crystal Superalloy After Long Term Aging

The specimens of the second generation single crystal superalloy DD6 with different Hf contents were prepared in the directionally solidified furnace with a high temperature gradient. The long term aging of the specimens after full heat treatment was performed at 1040℃for 800 h. The effect of Hf on the microstructure and stress rupture properties under 980℃/250 MPa of the alloy after long term aging was investigated. The results show that the γ＇ coarsening and rafting and no topologically close packed phase （TCP） are observed in the microstructures of DD6 alloy with different Hf contents after aged at 1 040℃ for 800 h. It indicates that DD6 alloy with different Hf contents all possesses good microstructure stability. With increasing Hf content the rupture life after long term aging turns shorter and the elongation represents the increasing first and decreasing afterwards. The fracture mechanism of the alloy with different Hf contents at 980℃/250 MPa all shows dimple model. The influence of the microstructures on the stress rupture properties of the alloy is also discussed.

Long-term stress relaxation behaviors and mechanisms of 2219 Al-Cu alloy under various temperatures and initial stresses

Large 2219 Al-Cu alloy aerospace integral components suffer from long-term stress relaxation aging(SRA)due to complex temperature and stress loads during aging treatment/forming and service process,which makes it difficult to ensure their appropriate residual stress and excellent mechanical and service prop-erties.However,the research is limited to a thorough understanding of macroscopic and microscopic features and underlying mechanisms of the long-term SRA under multivariable aging conditions.There-fore,this study investigated macroscopic and microscopic features of long-term SRA under different tem-peratures(120 ℃ to 190 ℃),initial stress levels(100 MPa to 250 MPa)and durations(0 h to 50 h)through stress relaxation curves,metallographic traits,Vickers hardness,tensile performance,disloca-tions and phases of precipitation.On the basis of experimental outcomes,the comprehensive mecha-nisms beneath SRA were unraveled through dislocation theory,multiphase strengthening mechanisms and thermodynamics,where the interplays of stress relaxation behavior with age-hardening response were taken into consideration.The results showed elevations in the rate of stress reduction as the tem-perature and initial stress rose.At an initial stress greater than the yield stress of alloy,a marked in-crease in stress relaxation was found,and the mechanisms transform from the intragranular motion of dislocations and diffusion of grain boundaries to the intragranular and intergranular motion of disloca-tions and migration of grain boundaries.The stress reduction rate rose sharply when the temperature exceeded 175 ℃,and the dislocation movement mechanisms transform from gliding to climbing of dislo-cations.Stress relaxation is in nature progressive transformation of strain from elastic into a permanently inelastic state via the motion of dislocations,leading to the decrease of movable dislocations and the increase of immovable dislocations with more stable configurations.The age hardening is mainly deter-mined by precipitation strengthening,supplementarily by dislocation strengthening,and obvious stress orientation effect(SOE)of G.P.zones and θ"phases degenerates strengthening effect.The interplay be-tween stress relaxation behavior and age-hardening response influences the thermal-mechanical coupling SRA of 2219 Al-Cu alloy,which depends fundamentally on the motion of dislocations and their interplay with precipitated phases.This is a thermal activation process concerning the interplay between internal(age-hardening resistance)stress and external(initial)stress.The initial energy of elastic strain offers Gibbs free energy as the SRA driver,and a steady state of stress relaxation is attained with the lowest energy of elastic strain.These findings provide valuable insights into exploring innovative aging treat-ment/forming for optimizing residual stress,mechanical performance and service property in a synergistic manner.