Study of Formability and Fracture of Aluminum Alloys

Abstract

<p>High strength to weight ratio materials are becoming of increasing importance in the automotive industry. Some aluminum alloys offer strength equivalent to low carbon sheet steel at one third its weight. However, for these alloys no production experience exists. The present work involves the study of formability of three important grades of formable aluminum alloys. Strain distributions have been examined for the materials deformed under different conditions of biaxial straining. In particular the maximum useful strains (limit strains) have been obtained as well as the fracture strains.</p> <p>A detailed description of fundamental property tests and simulative tests have been provided in this thesis.</p> <p>Computer programs developed by the author to compute plastic properties of the materials from the test data are also provided.</p> <p>Some instability analysis have been examined with particular reference to their ability to assess the influence of material properties and the loading system on the useful forming limits.</p>