Plastic deformation in electrical conductors subjected to short-duration current pulses

In this paper, we consider the viscoplastic response of Al 6061-T6 and Cu-102 when subjected to a combination of mechanical load and high-intensity electric current. The specimens are subjected to mechanical loading under fixed-grip and dead-load conditions; in addition, the specimen is subjected to a nearly sinusoidal current pulse (frequency 4 kHz, duration ∼1 ms, and intensity ∼109 A/m2). The resulting temperature increase causes the yield stress to drop and enables accumulation of plastic strain. A viscoplastic model is used to simulate the process; comparisons of the simulation results to time resolved measurements of strain and temperature are used to calibrate the viscoplastic model.