Superplastic Materials Characterisation Based on Free-Bulge Tests

Abstract

A new characterisation method based on free-bulge tests is proposed to find the characteristic parameters of the strainstress relation in superplastic alloys. The method is applied to experimental tests found in the literature and to new adhoc tests performed on aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys. The parameters are then compared to independent values obtained from tensile test and computer-aided simulations. The characterisation of the material is evaluated as an apparent viscosity function of the strain-rate and is extracted from the height evolution at the apex dome during the forming process. Results show a good agreement between parameter estimation using this method and independent values. Moreover, this characterisation method exposes the non-newtonian fluid behaviour of these materials during superplastic processes known as shear-thinning or pseudoplasticity.