Constitutive modelling of a T74 multi-step creep ageing behaviour of AA7050 and its application to stress relaxation ageing in age formed aluminium components

This work focuses on validating a model, which is defined using load controlled creep ageing data, from strain-controlled stress relaxation ageing tests. A set of phenomenological constitutive equations were proposed. The material constants within the equations were determined from multi-step (120 °C× 6 h +177 °C ×7 h) creep-ageing test data. Temperature effects on the internal state variables (i.e. precipitate size, volume fraction and dislocation density) were also considered. This model was further used to predict the stress relaxation phenomena under the same ageing condition. Although similar stress reduction trends and features were observed, the stress reduction was significantly over-predicted. The over-prediction of the stress reduction magnitude suggests that improvements should be applied to the current modelling method for simulating spring-back after creep age forming.