Collaborative Research: Program for Modeling of Microstructure Evolution During Hot Bulk Forming of Al-Mg-Si Alloys

本研究的目的是开发一种经过实验验证的模拟工具，能够预测Al-Mg-Si合金在热体成形过程中的关键组织特征的演变。将开发新的模型和模拟工具，用于模拟控制热成形过程中组织演变的现象。将使用精心设计和控制的实验进行模型校准和验证。铝镁硅合金是航空航天、建筑和汽车工业中最常用的材料之一。对于美国铝业及其客户来说，能够预测由受控变形过程产生的最终铝零件的最终显微组织，从而预测其机械性能是极其重要的。这项工作将指导工艺设计人员设计成本更低的工艺，并生产出材料特性得到改善的铝产品。如果成功，该项目将使铝生产商及其客户受益，可能会对环境产生积极影响，并将有助于工程师的高级培训。这项研究将有助于更好地了解Al-Mg-Si合金在成形过程中的行为，并可能导致新的成形工艺的设计，从而以更低的成本改善材料性能。这将使在汽车中使用铝制部件变得更经济，例如，这将导致车辆更轻，从而提高燃料效率。研究生、本科生和高中生将参与这项研究，研究结果将广泛传播。

The objective of this research is to develop a simulation tool, validated by experiments, capable of predicting the evolution of key microstructural characteristics in Al-Mg-Si alloys during hot bulk forming. New models and simulation tools will be developed and used to model the phenomena the govern the evolution of the microstructure during hot forming. Carefully designed and controlled experiments will be used for model calibration and validation. Al-Mg-Si alloys are among the most common materials used in aerospace, construction and automotive industries. The ability to predict final microstructure, and therefore mechanical properties, in a final aluminum part that results from a controlled deformation process is extremely important for the US aluminum industry and its customers. This work will guide process designers to design processes that are lower in cost and produce aluminum products with improved material characteristics. If successful, this project will benefit aluminum producers and their customers, may have a positive environmental impact, and will contribute to the advanced training of engineers. The research will lead to a better understanding of the way Al-Mg-Si alloys behave during forming and could lead to the design of new forming processes resulting in improved material properties at lower cost. This would make it more economical to use aluminum components in automobiles, for example, which would result in lighter weight vehicles, and thus improved fuel efficiency. Graduate, undergraduate, and high school students will participate in the research, and the results will be widely disseminated.