Effect of loading rate on absorbed energy and fracture surface deformation in a 6061-T651 aluminum alloy

The absorbed energy, micro- and macrodeformation on fracture surfaces were evaluated at various loading rates for a 6061-T651 aluminum alloy. The variation of absorbed energy with loading rate was compared with the variation of micro- and macrodeformation features in a wide loading rate range. It was found that there are correlations between loading rate dependences of total absorbed energy, whole fracture surface area, shear lip volume and shear lip shape.