Effect of strain on the adiabatic shear behaviour of AZ31 magnesium alloy

The effect of strain on the adiabatic shear behaviour of AZ31 magnesium alloy under high strain rate compression was studied using split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The microstructure of the specimen was characterised using optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. The results indicate that the adiabatic shear sensitivity increased with the strain. The microstructure evolution of adiabatic shear deformation has been investigated. Firstly, a large number of twins and dislocations are formed and accumulate in the early stage of deformation. Subsequently, they transform into dynamic recrystallised grains, forming an adiabatic shear band (ASB) and ultimately leading to crack formation. The dynamic recrystallisation mechanism in the ASB involves twinning-induced dynamic recrystallisation (TDRX) and rotational dynamic recrystallisation (RDRX). This study has analysed the ASB mechanism, which provides a foundation for material selection and the design of magnesium alloys.