Investigation on grain size effect in high strain rate ductility of 1100 pure aluminum

The effect of the initial grain size on the material ductility at high strain rates in 1100 pure aluminum was investigated. Dynamic tensile extrusion (DTE) tests, at different impact velocities, were performed. Samples have been annealed at 350°C for different exposure times to induce grain growth. Extruded fragments were soft-recovered and the overall length of the extruded jets was used as a measure of material ductility at high strain rates. Numerical simulation of DTE test at different velocity was performed using the modified Rusinek-Klepaczko constitutive model. Results indicates that, as reported for pure copper, the overall ductility of the aluminum increases when grain size decreases. Numerical simulation results were in quite good agreement with experimental data.