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模拟工具，通过实验验证，能够预测Al-Mg-Si合金在热体成形过程中关键显微组织特征的演变。新的模型和仿真工具将被开发并用于模拟控制热成形过程中微观结构演变的现象。精心设计和控制的实验将用于模型校准和验证。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。对于美国铝工业及其客户来说，通过控制变形过程预测最终铝零件的最终微观结构和机械性能的能力是极其重要的。这项工作将指导工艺设计人员设计成本更低的工艺，并生产出具有改进材料特性的铝产品。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。这项研究将使人们更好地了解Al-Mg-Si合金在成形过程中的行为方式，并可能导致设计新的成形工艺，从而以更低的成本改善材料性能。这将使在汽车中使用铝部件变得更加经济，例如，这将导致车辆重量更轻，从而提高燃油效率。研究生、本科生和高中生将参与研究，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.