An experimental study of shear damage and failure of aluminium alloy 2024T3

Abstract Two kinds of shear tests, the Iosipescu shear test and the torsion test were used for studying the shear damage of aluminium alloy 2024T3. In the Iosipescu test, a specially designed shear fixture was used. The Iosipescu specimen was deformed under simple shear. After shear fracture, the Iosipescu specimen was polished and etched for microscopic examination. In the torsion test, the curve surface Moire method was applied to determine the shear damage variable of the aluminium alloy. The results of the microscopic examination show that rotation and distortion of grains, breakage of particles and microcracks occurred in the shear band. It can be concluded that the damage produced by shearing can degenerate the mechanical properties of the aluminium alloy. In addition, the level of the shear damage can be quantified by the shear damage variable D G that can be measured by the proposed load-and-unload torsion test.