Finite element analysis on the response of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy tubes with a local sharp cut under cyclic bending

In this paper, the finite element software ANSYS Workbench 14.0 is used to analyze the moment-curvature and ovalization-curvature relationships of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy tubes with a local sharp cut under curvature-controlled symmetrical cyclic bending. The cut depths of 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 mm were considered. The experimental moment-curvature relationship exhibited an almost steady loop from the beginning of the first cycle; the cut depth had almost no influence on the curves. Moreover, the ovalization-curvature curve increased in an increasing, unsymmetrical and ratcheting manner with the number of bending cycles. Large cut depths resulted in larger ovalization of the tube cross-section. The ANSYS analysis was compared with the experimental finding. The simulated results exhibited close correspondence to those obtained from the experiments.