Coupled precipitation and yield strength modelling for non-isothermal treatments of a 6061 aluminium alloy

In age-hardening alloys, high-temperature processes, such as welding, can strongly modify the precipitation state, and thus degrade the associated mechanical properties. The aim of this paper is to present a coupled approach able to describe precipitation and associated yield stresses for non-isothermal treatments of a 6061 aluminium alloy. The precipitation state (in terms of volume fraction and precipitate size distribution) is modelled thanks to a recent implementation of the classical nucleation and growth theories for needle-shaped precipitates. The precipitation model is validated through small-angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy experiments. The precipitation size distribution is then used as an entry parameter of a micromechanical model for the yield strength of the alloy. Predicted yield stresses are compared to tensile tests performed with various heating conditions, representative of the heat-affected zone of a welded joint. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.