A study on the hot-deformation behavior and dynamic recrystallization of Al-5 wt.%Mg alloy

A numerical analysis was performed to predict flow curves and the dynamic recrystallization behaviors of an Al-5 wt.%Mg alloy on the basis of results of hot-compression tests. These tests were carried out in the ranges 350-500 degreesC and 0.005-3 s(-1) to obtain the Zener-Hollomon parameter Z. The modeling equation for flow stress was a function of strain, strain rate and temperature, and the influence of these variables was quantified using the Zener-Hollomon parameter. In the modeling equation, the effects of strain hardening and dynamic recrystallization were taken into consideration. A model of the evolution of microstructure in the Al-5 wt.%Mg alloy was developed to predict grain size and recrystallized volume fraction during hot working. The microstructure model was combined with a thermoviscoplastic finite element method (FEM). Model prediction shows a good agreement with microstructures obtained in compression tests. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.