Plastic deformation mechanisms and constitutive modeling of WE43 magnesium alloy at various strain rates and temperatures

In this study, we investigated the mechanical behavior and deformation mechanisms of as-cast and as-rolled WE43 at various strain rates and temperatures. Compression tests were carried out at ambient temperature under 900/s, 1400/s, and 2000/s, and at temperatures of 100 °C, 200 °C, 250 °C, and 300 °C under 1400/s, respectively. The results showed that, with the rise of strain rate, the deformation mechanism of as-cast and as-rolled WE43 both changed from twinning dominant combined with slipping to slipping dominant. As the temperature increased, the deformation mechanism of WE43 changed from twinning to slipping, controlled by non-basal slips at various strain rates and temperatures. As for as-rolled WE43, it was observed that intense dynamic recrystallization and adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) occurred under high strain rate and high temperature conditions. Moreover, this study employed the Johnson-Cook (JC) model to formulate the plastic deformation model of the WE43 alloy under conditions of elevated temperatures and high strain rates. And a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) was successfully employed to refine the accuracy of elastic modulus.