Effect of cyclic loading on mechanical properties and microstructure of
die cast magnesium alloy AZ91D
Abstract
Magnesium alloy materials are often affected by cyclic stress, resulting
in fatigue fracture due to changes in mechanical properties. In this
study, external cyclic loads were introduced to simulate the loading of
AZ91D(Mg-9Al-0.5Zn) parts. Tensile tests under static and external
circulation loads were performed on the same specimens, and the effect
of loading conditions on the mechanical properties of the specimens
(tensile strength, yield strength and elongation) were studied. The
internal microstructure of the test specimens was analyzed, and the
influence of cyclic loading on the microstructure change of the
specimens was discussed. Compared with static load, under the condition
of cyclic loading, the tensile strength and yield strength of the
specimens are increased by more than 15%, and the elongation rate is
increased by 3 times. In addition, the microstructure images showed that
many twins and the second phase β-Mg 17Al
12 were generated inside the AZ91D microstructure under
cyclic loading. The former results in specimens crack initiation and it
is the root cause of fatigue fracture. And the latter accounts for the
strengthening of the mechanical properties of specimens.