Uniaxial ratcheting and fatigue failure behaviors of hot-rolled AZ31B magnesium alloy under asymmetrical cyclic stress-controlled loadings

Uniaxial ratcheting and low-cycle fatigue failure behaviors of the hot-rolled AZ31B magnesium alloy are studied by uniaxial asymmetrical cyclic stress-controlled experiments at room temperature. The effects of mean stress, stress amplitude and stress rate on the uniaxial ratcheting response and ratcheting life of the studied magnesium alloy are analyzed. The microscopic observations near fracture surface are carried out. In addition, a fatigue parameter is introduced to describe the ratcheting damage and fatigue damage processes, and a new model is established to describe the relationship between the linear density of twins and the fatigue parameter. Results show that (1) the mean stress and stress amplitude has a great influence on the ratcheting strain and fatigue failure life. When the mean stress or stress amplitude is increased, the ratcheting strain and its rate rapidly increase. So, the fatigue failure life is reduced. (2) The increase of mean stress and stress amplitude can accelerate the generation of twins, which decreases the fatigue resistance and increases the ratcheting strain. However, the stress rate has little effect on the twinning. So, the effects of stress rate on ratcheting and low-cycle fatigue failure behaviors are not obvious under the tested conditions. This is because the studied magnesium alloy shows highly rate-independent property at room temperature within the tested strain rate range. (3) The established model can accurately describe the relationship between the linear density of twins and the fatigue parameter. Furthermore, the threshold fatigue parameter for twinning is found.