Evolution of texture and strain states in AA 3004 sheet during rolling with a dead block

Aluminum alloy AA 3004 strips were deformed by rolling together with a hard non-deforming steel slab to investigate the evolution of strain states and, in particular, shear strains during rolling with a dead block. The strain states at various through-thickness layers were analyzed by measurements of crystallographic texture and microhardness as well as by simulations with the finite element method (FEM). After rolling with the dead block the aluminum strip revealed pronounced through-thickness texture gradients. These texture gradients were modeled with the strain history extracted from the FEM data. At variance to the strain states prevailing in other techniques involving large shears, which give rise to quite uniform strain states comprised of unidirectional shear, the strain state obtained in a sheet rolled together with a dead block is akin to that observed in ordinarily rolled strip under high friction conditions.