ZK60 alloy deformation and damage at different temperatures using unified constitutive model

Abstract

The deformation behaviour and damage mechanism of ZK60 magnesium alloy under temperatures of 25–140 °C and strain rates of 0.01–0.0001 s−1 were investigated by uniaxial hot tensile and characterization experiments. The results suggested that the main factor for damage in ZK60 magnesium alloy was the nucleation, growth and coalescence of microdefects such as microvoids and cracks around the second-phase particles and/or grain boundaries. Then, a unified constitutive model including damage evolution, work hardening and recovery mechanisms was established. The model, verified by experimental data, shows good predictability. It was implemented into ABAQUS software through the VUMAT subroutine, which then predicted and analyzed the microstructure evolution.