Energy absorption study of warm-rolled dual-phase LZ71 magnesium alloy hollow tube using ANN

In the present work, the energy absorption study of warm-rolled LZ71 sheet is done for the first time. To do so, Lithium (7% Wt), Zinc (1% Wt) and Magnesium are cast in 770⁰ C. After that, the billet has been warmrolled at 350⁰ C and its thickness reduced by 80%. Then, two different heat treatment situations are studied to reach an isotropic plate. Afterward, microstructures of the specimens have been studied using an optical microscope. Tensile tests of the samples are derived to study the mechanical and anisotropy properties of the sheets. Moreover, the results of tensile tests applied for crushing simulations. Energy absorption study of the alloy is also done using ABAQUS software. The results of simulations are validated using experimental tests of AA6082 and completely acceptable performance of simulations is observed. Then, the mechanical properties of LZ71 are used to study the crashworthiness behavior of the mentioned alloy. Crash absorption parameters, namely peak crushing force (FMax), mean crushing force (FMean), Total Energy Absorption (TAE), Crushing Force Efficiency (CFE), Specific Energy Absorption (SEA) and Total Efficiency (TE) of LZ71 and AA6082 are compared which shown that the performance of LZ71 is considerably more efficient than that of AA6082. Lastly, by the help of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Taguchi Method, the effects of dimensional parameters of tube, namely diameter, length and thickness, on FMax, FMean, TAE, CFE, SEA and TE are surveyed comprehensively.