Modeling of temperature-sensitive anisotropic behavior of AZ31B magnesium alloy sheets: Integration of polycrystal plasticity and yield function calibration

Accurate modeling of the temperature-sensitive in-plane anisotropic behavior of Mg alloys using finite element method simulations is crucial for the widespread application of this environmentally friendly material. This study evaluates the applicability and accuracy of using a polycrystalline plasticity model to calibrate phenomenological models for AZ31B magnesium alloy sheets across multiple temperature scales. Mechanical tests including uniaxial tension tests, and layer and disk compression tests were conducted at various temperatures (25–250 °C) to obtain anisotropic data. A part of the experimental data was utilized to identify the viscoplastic self-consistent polycrystal plasticity (VPSC) model based on the texture information of the material. Subsequently, virtual experiments were conducted within the VPSC model to simulate the anisotropic parameters of the alloy under various temperature conditions. These parameters were next employed to calibrate three yield functions and compared with corresponding results calibrated based on the experimental data. The approach demonstrated an exceptional capability in fitting the experimental results in most cases, although the interference from grain activities influences the accuracy of VPSC model in predicting the R-values at higher temperatures. Overall, this approach is practical for enhancing the accuracy of anisotropy modeling across temperature scales with a few conveniently obtainable tests. Moreover, among the yield functions, Yld 2004-18p provided the most accurate modeling of the anisotropic behavior of the Mg alloy sheet.