Uniaxial Cyclic Deformation Behavior of 6061Al Alloy and its Time-Dependence at Room and High Temperatures

The cyclic deformation behavior of 6061Al-T6 alloy was studied by uniaxial cyclic straining or stressing tests at room and high temperatures. The cyclic softening/hardening feature of the material and its effect on the uniaxial ratcheting occurred under asymmetrical cyclic stressing were discussed. The cyclic deformation behaviors of the material presented at various loading rates and with certain peak and/or valley strain or stress holds were addressed. It is concluded from the experimental results that 6061Al-T6 alloy presents slightly cyclic softening feature, and its cyclic deformation is time-dependent even at room temperature. The ratcheting strain produced at lower stressing rate and with longer hold-time is apparently larger than that at higher stressing rate and with fewer hold-time. Some significant conclusions useful to construct the constitutive model to describe such cyclic deformation behaviors are obtained.