Prediction and Measurement of Quenching and Pre-Stretching Stress in 7050 Aluminum Alloy Thick Plate

Abstract

The article established a modelling that predicted and measured the quenching and pre-stretching stress in 7050 aluminum alloy thick plate in order to make the alloy suitable enough for manufacturing in the aerospace industries. The results show that both the rolling direction component stress and the transverse direction component stress have a “M” distribution along the plate thickness of 7050 aluminum alloy thick plate, but the level is slightly different, but the level is slightly different. The maximum value of quenching residual stress is about 187MPa in the 80mm thick of 7050 plate. Pre-stretching of the heat treated and quenched alloy to 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0% and 3.5% to reduce the residual stresses. It has been recorded that more than 90% reduction of residual stresses were observed in a pre-stretching rage of 2-3%. Measuring the surface residual stresses of the alloy by ultrasonic methods and measuring the internal residual stresses of the alloy by crack compliance methods. The two methods are used to verify the model. The difference between the measurement and the simulation is within 40MPa. The experimental data of the ultrasonic and the crack compliance methods were found to correspond well with the simulated models. This shows that the simulation model can effectively predict the evolution of residual stress in 7050 aluminum alloy thick plate, and the simulation model can also be reconstructed and inspected through the experimentally measurement.