The elasto-plastic transition in magnesium alloys

Abstract

Published neutron diffraction data on internal strains in a textured polycrystal of AZ31 alloy and tensile data for a random polycrystal of Mg are discussed from two complementary points of view, a purely phenomenological and a formal cristallographic one. It is suggested that the transition to full plasticity involves two different fractions of the grains population, at different strains. The role of texture and twinning are discussed. Critical experiments to test some of the hypotheses on how the elastoplastic transition develops are proposed.