Application of instrument indentation test for residual stress characterization of 5083 aluminium alloy

Abstract An abnormal cracking phenomenon occurred at the corner of a ventilation window on the 5083 aluminum alloy wallboard used in certain transportation equipment. The residual stresses of the wallboard were measured using an instrumented indentation test. Initially, stress loading was applied to the 5083 specimens using a residual stress loading device to verify the effectiveness of the instrument indentation test (IIT) for testing the residual stresses of 5083 aluminum alloy. Subsequently, IIT was conducted under static conditions at the serving site of the equipment, and the working stresses under dynamic conditions were detected using a strain monitor. The results indicate that the total tensile stress at the uncracked corner of the ventilation window has exceeded the 5083 yield strength, so excessive tensile stress is the main cause of the abnormal cracking of the wallboard.