Investigation of strain-hardening rate on splined mandrel flow forming of 5052 and 6061 aluminum alloys

► A 47% higher post SMFF yield stress in the 5052-O alloy compared with 6061-O. ► Larger the maximum local equivalent plastic strain in the SMFF 5052-O alloy than SMFF 6061-O alloy. ► Larger point-to-point variance in the local plastic strain in the SMFF 5052-O alloy than SMFF 6061-O alloy. ► Higher grain-to-grain variability in the plastic strain on the SMFF 5052-O alloy than 6061-O alloy.