Investigation of the microstructure evolution and properties of A1050 aluminum alloy during radial-shear rolling using FEM analysis

In this study, the analysis of influence temperature-velocity parameters of radial-shear rolling (RSR) on structure and properties of A1050 (Al99.5%) aluminum alloy using the finite element modeling was carried out. During RSR process, the nonuniform change in temperature-velocity parameters occurs in the volume of workpiece. The deformation temperature is one of the main influencing parameters. The gradient of temperature change over section is almost independent of the initial heating temperature of workpiece, and it increases with growth of rotary velocity. In the surface layer, the temperature and strain rate can vary over a wide range due to the deformation temperature and friction on the contact surface. With that, the change in temperature of the rod central zone occurs monotonically and, mainly, due to the energy of plastic deformation. The increasing in strain rate leads to the intense heating of surface layers of workpiece in deformation zone and the decreasing in temperature oscillations between deformation cycles. After RSR the rods with gradient structure and ultrafine surface layer with a microhardness of up to 43 HV were obtained. Depending on the selected temperature-velocity parameters, it is possible to obtain a different combination of mechanical properties (UTS similar to 94 horizontal ellipsis 120 MPa; YS similar to 88 horizontal ellipsis 110 MPa; delta similar to 1 horizontal ellipsis 43.5%). The strength of obtained RSR rods in all regimes is significantly higher than the strength of industrial rods in a hot-pressed condition that shows the application prospect of RSR process as efficient method of controlled plastic deformation of aluminum alloys and obtaining long rods.