Monotonic and cyclic deformation behaviour of ultrafine-grained aluminium

The effect of the enhanced strain-rate sensitivity (SRS) of ultrafine-grained commercially pure aluminium Al 99.5 on the mechanical properties under monotonic as well as under cyclic loading was investigated. Compared with the conventional grain-sized counterpart, for the monotonic tests, a strongly enhanced strength combined with a high ductility was obtained, depending on the strain rate. The enhanced SRS also affects the cyclic deformation behaviour and the fatigue lives. At a lower strain rate shorter fatigue lives and a different cyclic hardening behaviour are observed. Microstructural changes during cyclic deformation are investigated by X-ray diffraction profile analysis. Based on the fatigue behaviour and the X-ray diffraction profile analysis, thermally activated annihilation processes of dislocations are regarded to be the relevant deformation mechanism leading to enhanced SRS and ductility.