Evaluation of a phenomenological elastic-plastic approach for magnesium alloys under multiaxial loading conditions

Magnesium alloys are greatly appreciated due to their high strength to weight ratio, stiffness, and low density; however, they can exhibit complex types of cyclic plasticity like twinning, de-twinning, or Bauschinger effect. Recent studies indicate that these types of cyclic plastic deformations cannot be fully characterized using the typical tools used in cyclic characterization of steels and aluminium alloys; thus, it is required new approaches to fully capture their cyclic deformation and plasticity. This study aims to propose and evaluate a phenomenological cyclic elastic-plastic approach designed to capture the cyclic deformation of magnesium alloys under multiaxial loading conditions. Series of experimental tests were performed to characterize the cyclic mechanical behaviour of the magnesium alloy AZ31BF considering proportional loadings with different strain amplitude ratios and a nonproportional loading with a 45 degrees phase shift. The experimental results were modulated using polynomial functions in order to implement a cyclic plasticity model for the AZ311BF based on the phenomenological approach proposed. Results show good correlations between experiments and estimates.