Experimental Characterisation of Aluminium 6082 at Varying Temperature and Strain Rate

Abstract: This article describes the experimental methodology used in overcoming the challenges of performing tests and recording results on specimens, which are suitable for such a wide range of test conditions. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted on aluminium alloy 6082‐T352 at varying temperatures and strain rates to validate testing techniques and to determine the effect of these parameters upon this material. The applied strain rate varied over several orders of magnitude – using a screw‐driven tensometer for quasi‐static loading (6.9 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹), a hydraulic piston rig for moderate strain rate (4.0 × 10¹ s⁻¹) and a tensile Hopkinson bar for high strain rate (1.5 × 10³ s⁻¹). Temperature was varied using a heat gun, and the air temperature was measured using a thermocouple in the hot air stream. Specimen temperature is determined by finite element modelling, and this correlates well with other work. Although it would have been possible to improve the design of individual tests for specific test conditions, an important objective was to conduct the entire series of tests in as consistent a manner as possible. The procedure for characterising the stress–strain behaviour for this material under these different loading conditions is also considered in some detail, as the real material behaviour deviates from simplified elasto‐plastic material models. Results presented for Al 6082 samples show a slight increase in yield stress with increasing strain rate, and a decrease in yield stress with increasing temperature.