Deformation mechanisms of an Ω precipitate in a high-strength aluminum alloy subjected to high strain rates

Journal of Materials Research volume 26, pages487–497(2011)Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the microstructural mechanisms controlling Ω precipitates’ contribution to the high strength and ductility of Al–Cu–Mg–Ag alloys subjected to high impact loading conditions. Three interrelated approaches were used: (i) HRTEM imaging of deformed Ω precipitates in ballistically impacted Al–Cu–Mg–Ag plates, (ii) microstructurally based finite element (FE) analysis based on specialized crystalline plasticity formulations, and (iii) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of dislocation nucleation and emission. The FE and MD simulations detail the evolution of dislocation densities and dislocations at the Al/Ω interface, which are consistent with the experimentally observed multiplicity of shear cutting of thin Ω precipitates. Furthermore, the FE results indicate that unrelaxed tensile strains at the Al/Ω interface can inhibit localized deformation in the alloy.

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Acknowledgment

Support from the Army Research Office and JIEDDO is gratefully acknowledged.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27695-7910, USA

    K. Elkhodary, W. Lee & M.A. Zikry

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27587-7907, USA

    L.P. Sun & D.W. Brenner

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  1. K. Elkhodary
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  2. W. Lee
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  3. L.P. Sun
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  4. D.W. Brenner
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  5. M.A. Zikry
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Correspondence to M.A. Zikry.

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Elkhodary, K., Lee, W., Sun, L. et al. Deformation mechanisms of an Ω precipitate in a high-strength aluminum alloy subjected to high strain rates. Journal of Materials Research 26, 487–497 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2010.29

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