Failure modes during uniaxial deformation of magnesium alloy AZ31B tubes

This study examines magnesium alloy AZ31B circular tubing subject to uniaxial compressive loading and compares their performance to steel (ASTM A106 Grade B) and aluminium alloy AA6061T6 circular tubing at both low and high strain rates. Quasi-static tests were undertaken using a hydraulic testing machine for a range of tube lengths and thicknesses for tubes with an outside diameter of approximately 48 mm. To examine the effects of higher strain rate, a drop test rig was used. It was found that magnesium alloy AZ31B outperforms both the steel and aluminium alloys in terms of energy absorption for equivalent mass when subject to uniaxial compressive loads for the thicker sections. This is further enhanced by alloy AZ31B’s strain rate sensitivity, as there is a dramatic increase in the energy absorption at higher strain rates. However, the AZ31B tubes usually fail by fracturing, which generally involves a shear fracture mode, unlike the aluminium and steel tubes, which generally retained their structural integrity to a higher degree. The greatest energy absorption was obtained when the AZ31B failed via fine sharding. This failure mode appeared to be related to the presence of micro-cracks on the surface of the section obtained by overheating during extrusion. At higher strain rates, much greater plasticity and compaction are present in the fracture modes for the thicker AZ31B tubing. Some of the fracture modes have been discussed and the failure/fracture modes are compared with a typical aluminium alloy tube failure mode classification chart.

Research highlights
► Magnesium alloy AZ31B outperforms both steel and aluminium alloy in specific energy absorption for thicker tubular sections subject to compressive loads;
► The specific energy absorption is further enhanced at higher strain rates;
► A number of new failure and fracture modes for AZ31B have been identified and characterized based on tube thickness, diameter and tube length;
► Some failure and fracture modes are influenced by the presence of micro-cracks in some tubes most likely caused by overheating of the tube during the extrusion process