A Novel Test Design for Large Strain Uniaxial Reverse Loading of AZ31B Sheet Out of the Rolling Plane

Understanding a magnesium alloy sheet's response to load reversals is important to accurately simulate and optimize a component's manufacturing process. Through this research, the room temperature compression-tension and tension-compression experiments with strains up to ∼12% are performed on AZ31B-H24 sheet specimens along the normal direction of a 6.35 mm-thick sheet. Miniature specimens machined through thickness are tested using a novel setup designed for large strain reverse loading data generation where specimen size is limited. The reliability of the devised setup is verified by finite element simulation and by reproducing in-plane curves obtained via an anti-buckling fixture. A shot peening process involving prevailing through-thickness deformation is modeled and numerical results indicate that employing only in-plane properties of magnesium sheets for simulating such processes can lead to inaccurate predictions.

Evaluation of resistance to corrosion cracking of irradiated austenitic chromium-nickel steels by impact bending tests on miniature specimens

In this work, we present results of a bending test of miniature specimens made of chromium-nickel stainless austenitic steels of grades 321 (08Kh18N10T), 316 (06Kh16N11M3) and 304 (02Kh18N9) irradiated to various damage doses from 4 to 125 dpa in different energy neutron spectra. Effects of the damage dose and the neutron energy spectrum on the intergranular fracture energy, which determines the strength of grain boundaries, are studied. Two neutron spectra are considered: one characteristic of the active zone of PWR and WWER reactors, and the other is typical for the active zone of fast core reactors. The relationship between the resistance to corrosion cracking of irradiated chromium-nickel steels 321, 316 and 304 and the strength of grain boundaries is considered.

Strength assessment of austenitic steel grain boundaries by impact bending tests for miniature specimens

The paper proposes methods for assessing the strength of grain boundaries according to the results of testing miniature specimens by impact bending. Results of bending at low temperature are given to assess the strength of grain boundaries in austenitic chromium-nickel steels. The test temperature was determined when the proportion of brittle intergranular fracture of embrittled chromium-nickel steel 10Kh18N9 is at least 90%. Three types of miniature specimens of different geometric shapes have been developed, providing approximately the same absorbed energy when tested for impact bending. It is shown when it is necessary to use such miniature specimens.