Quantitative Analysis of Instability for Superplastic Tension

Abstract

In conventional analysis of instability, a rough prediction of uniform deformation was obtained due to taking material parameters as constants. In this study, the constitutive equation with varying parameters for Zn-5%Al alloy at 340 °C is employed to predict the critical values of uniform strain in tension based on Considere criterion and Hart criterion, respectively. It should address the factor of strain rate in the characterization of the capability of uniform deformation on superplastic alloys, or for that matter, on any rate-dependent material. Comparison and analysis indicated that the results on Hart criterion have the better predictability of uniform deformation than Considere criterion. The Considere criterion is dependent on strain path, while Hart crtierion is merely dependent on the values of strain and strain rate in tension, and is independent on the strain path or the deformation condition or the deformation history. Therefore, the uniform strain vs. strain rate relation can be taken as a quantitative reference for designing a reasonable strain path during superplastic forming with increase of formability and reduction of forming time.