Macro-micro dynamic behaviors and fracture modes of roll bonded 7A52/ 7A01/7B52 aluminum laminates in high velocity deformation

Damage tolerance improvement in the lamination of aluminum alloy plates and composites has been reported in many studies. In the present study the macro-micro dynamic deformation behavior and related mechanisms of 7A52/7A01/7B52 laminated plates processed by hot roll bonding of 7A52, 7A01 and 7B52 plate at high strain rates and quasi-static compression has been investigated. The microstructure of the laminated plates was examined with backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques, scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The results showed that with increased strain rate, obvious strain rate hardening was observed in the single layer specimens. The peak flow stress of the multilayer samples was slightly higher than that of the 7A52 monolayer samples and much lower than that of the 7B52 monolayer samples at the same strain rate. Beyond the peak stress state, the strain hardening was replaced by thermal softening in the 7A52 layer, leading to low resistance of deformation and high tendency to facilitate deformation-induced adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) that consist of dynamic recrystallized grains. ASBs in laminated samples were deflected and bifurcated at the interface of 7A52 layer. In addition, bifurcated ASBs converged at the interface between the 7A52 and 7A01 layers. The high deformation resistance observed in the laminate under dynamic loading was a consequence of the high capacity for strain hardening in the 7A01 layer. This hardening effectively overcame the influences of thermal softening and dynamic recovery during dynamic loading. This study provides an understanding of the laminate's microstructure evolution during dynamic deformation and its relevance to the fracture modes of a multilayer structure under dynamic loading.