Microstructure and damage evolution during tensile loading in a wrought magnesium alloy

Damage evolution in a wrought magnesium alloy under uniaxial tensile deformation is investigated. Sectioned specimens subjected to interrupted tensile deformation were examined under optical microscopy to quantify the number density of cracked intermetallic particles as a function of applied strain. Digital image analysis of the optical images was employed to quantify damage by separating cracked from non-cracked particles. Finally, an internal state variable damage model was shown to adequately capture the experimentally observed damage progression due to the intermetallics.

Research highlights► Interrupted uniaxial tensile tests were used to characterize damage. ► Oxide/intermetallic, and Mn-Al and Mg-Al phases were identified. ► Density of cracked particles evolved with strain. ► A damage nucleation model adequately captured the observed experimental results.