The suitability of aluminum alloys in a vast majority of engineering applications forms the basis for the need to understand the mechanisms responsible for their deformation and failure under various loading conditions. The material investigated in this study is AA 2219-T8 aluminum alloy. Supplied by the NASA Research Center, with high strength to weight ratio and corrosive resistance. Containing a unique mixture of aluminum, copper, and other trace elements, this alloy has potential applications in multiple fields including aerospace, defense, and commercial industries. In this paper, the dynamic high strain rate impact deformation of the AA2219-T8 aluminum alloy was performed using the split Hopkinson pressure bars. The evolution of localized strain in the aluminum samples during the deformation process obtained using high speed digital cameras is reported. Microstructural analysis of deformed aluminum samples was also performed using optical microscopes in order to determine the influence of impact strain rate on localized strain along narrow adiabatic shear bands in the AA2219-T8 aluminum alloys. Results obtained indicate that peak flow stress in the deformed aluminum sample depends on the strain rate at which the deformation test was performed. The non-uniformity of the strain obtained using the digital image correlation as deformation time progresses shows two distinct areas of non-uniform strains that may be indicating potential sites for the formation of adiabatic shear bands in the tested samples.
Adiabatic shear band localization in an Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy under high strain rate compression
