In situ identification of twin-related bands near yielding in a magnesium alloy

Digital image correlation and acoustic emission were used simultaneously to investigate the near-yielding behavior of textured samples of a magnesium alloy. Distinct band evolution near yielding was monitored in situ and directly related to profuse localized twin formation, verified by ex situ electron backscatter diffraction. The presented results demonstrate for the first time quantitatively in both space and time the dominant role of twinning in the early stages of plastic deformation of magnesium alloys. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.