Adam Lipski, Stanisław Mroziński

The Effects of Temperature on the Strength Properties of Aluminium Alloy 2024-T3

THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM ALLOY 2024-T3

Adam LIPSKI*, Stanisław MROZIŃSKI*

*Department Laboratory for Research on Materials and Structures, Department of Mechanics and Mechanical Design
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz
Al. Prof. Sylwestra Kaliskiego 7, 85-789 Bydgoszcz, Poland

adam.lipski@utp.edu.pl, stanislaw.mrozinski@utp.edu.pl

Abstract: This paper presents results of monotonous tensile tests of 0.16” thick samples made of non-clad plates of aluminium alloy
for aircraft purposes 2024-T3. Tests were performed for samples cut out from a sheet plate in two different directions: in the parallel
and perpendicular direction to sheet plate rolling direction, for eight different temperature values from the range 25°C – 200°C. The tests
were performed using the hydraulic-drive testing machine INSTRON 8502 equipped with thermal chamber. The analysis of results included
changes of basic strength-related parameters depending on temperature. It was also observed that the intensity of Portevin-Le Châtelier
(PLC) effect depends on the temperature.

Key words: Aluminium Alloy 2024-T3, Monotonous Tensile Tests, Elevated Temperature, Portevin-Le Châtelier Effect

1. INTRODUCTION in Bydgoszcz, using the testing machine INSTRON 8502

(with the following parameters: maximum static force – 300 kN,
maximum dynamic force – 250 kN, piston stroke: ±75 mm) fitted
Aircraft structures are particularly sensitive to damage, which with the control system 8500+, and equipped with the heating
may significantly reduce flight safety and, as a consequence, chamber (Fig. 1).
increase probability of a catastrophe posing danger to passen-
ger's and crew’s life as well as possible significant material losses.
Thus, in that case, it is very important to have the broadest possi-
ble knowledge on materials used in such structures, particularly
on their strength properties.
Typical materials used for plating of plane and helicopter fuse-
lage, tensioned wing parts, ribs subject to shear as well as any
area where appropriate rigidity, high static and fatigue strength
is required include aluminium alloy 2024-T3. That alloy may also
be used in the area of engines, where high operating temperature
occurs – which amounts up to 120°C in case of 2024-T3 alloy –
(acc. to ALCOA Alloy 2024 TechSheet). Basic strength properties
are determined using tensile test at elevated temperature
in accordance with the standard PN EN 10002-5:2002
or ASTM E 21-05.
The aim of this paper is to determine effects of temperature
on basic strength properties of aluminium alloy 2024-T3. Due to
that aim, authors of this paper presented results of monotonous
tensile tests of 0.16” thick standard samples made of non-clad
plates of aluminium alloy 2024-T3. The tests were performed
for eight different temperatures ranging from 25°C up to 200°C
with the step of 25°C. Tests were performed for samples cut out
from a sheet plate in two different directions: in the parallel
and perpendicular direction to sheet plate rolling direction. Fig. 1. The test sample and the extensometer installed inside
the heating chamber (opened in the presented photo)
of the Instron 8502 system
2. TEST STATION

3. THE MATERIAL AND TEST CONDITIONS

The tests were performed in the Department Laboratory
for Research on Materials and Structures (certified by the Polish
Centre for Accreditation – PCA AB 372) of the Faculty of Mechan- Tests were performed using non-clad plates made of alumini-
ical Engineering at the University of Technology and Life Sciences um alloy 2024-T3 (AlCu4Mg1 – supersaturated, cold deformed

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 acta mechanica et automatica, vol.6 no.3 (2012)

and naturally aged up to stable condition) in accordance 250

12,5±0,2
to the American standard AMS-QQ-A-250/4. R12,5
Ra 0,2
The tests were performed in compliance with guidelines

20
of Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (Civil Aviation Office) based
on the standard MIL-HDBK-5H (1998) as well as relevant ASTM 57 4
standards referred to there. Monotonous properties of the alloy
Fig. 2. Sample for monotonous properties tests
2024-T3 in elevated temperatures were determined in accordance
with the standard ASTM E 21-05 (2005).
Design features of the samples are shown in Fig. 2. Samples a)
were cut from plate sheets in two perpendicular directions using
500 , MPa 25°C
Water Jet technology:
 parallel to the plate sheet rolling direction;
 perpendicular to the plate sheet rolling direction. 400
50°C
75°C
The analysed part of samples was subject to finishing in order
to obtain required surface roughness. 125°C
175°C 150°C
Tests were performed at the temperature of 25°C, 50°C, 300
100°C
75°C, 100°C, 125°C, 150°C, 175°C and 200°C. The temperature 200°C
was measured directly on samples which were heated until their
temperature stabilized at the required level. The temperature was 200
maintained at that level for at least 10 minutes before the test
start.
During tests, samples were subject to uniaxial monotonously 100
increasing tension up to their damage. During tests, the load force
and the displacement of the test machine handle, together with
the sample deformation, were recorded using high temperature 0
extensometer with measurement base of 12.5 mm and the meas- 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25
uring range -1.25÷+2.5 mm. The tests were performed with dis-
placement rate of 0,05 mm/s in order to achieve constant sample b)
deformation rate. 500 , MPa 25°C

4. TEST RESULTS 50°C

400 75°C
Selected tension charts obtained from the tests in the direction 125°C
175°C 150°C
parallel to the plate rolling direction were provided in Fig. 3a, while 300
100°C
for tests in the direction perpendicular to the plate rolling direction 200°C
- in Fig. 3b.
Based on charts presented in Fig. 3, the authors determined
200
average values of strength parameters:
 elastic (Young’s) modulus E;
 yield point ReL or yield strength at non-proportional increment
100
Rp0,2;
 tensile strength Rm;
 ultimate elongation At.
0
The determined parameters were presented in Tab. 1.
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25
Fig. 3. Charts of monotonous tensile tests of samples made
5. ANALYSIS OF TEST RESULTS of aluminium alloy 2024-T3 cut parallel (a) to the plate rolling
direction and perpendicular (b) to the plate rolling direction
for different temperatures
5.1. Effects of temperature on strength properties

The nature of strength properties change depending

Based on the obtained results, one can conclude that on the temperature, presented in Fig. 4, is qualitatively similar
the tested plate is characterized by significant differences for both sampling directions. Either the tensile strength value Rm,
of strength properties depending on the rolling direction. Samples as well as yield point ReL (parallel to rolling direction) or the yield
taken parallel to plate rolling direction, regardless of the tempera- strength at non-proportional increment Rp0,2 (perpendicular
ture, are characterized by clear yield point and better strength- to rolling direction) decrease as the temperature rises. The tensile
related properties (apart from the elongation) than samples taken strength in the temperature range from 25°C to 125°C decreases
perpendicular to the rolling direction. by about 10%, while at the temperature of 200°C it achieves
Fig. 4 shows schematically the change of strength properties about 75% of Rm value obtained for the temperature 25°C.
determined based on the monotonous tensile test The decrease is lower for ReL (Rp0,2), i.e.: at the temperature
of the studied plate depending on temperature. of 125°C, it drops by about 5%, while at 200°C, by about 15%

63
Adam Lipski, Stanisław Mroziński
The Effects of Temperature on the Strength Properties of Aluminium Alloy 2024-T3

as compared to the temperature of 25°C. on the tensile chart with multiple repeating jumps which result
Whereas the elastic (Young’s) modulus E slightly increases as from the fact that atoms of impurities are intercepted by moving
the temperature rises and achieves the maximum value at about dislocations, which are immobilized and then abruptly released.
75°C, and then gradually decreases. For sampling direction paral- Stopping dislocation movement results in stress increase, while
lel to the plate rolling direction, that decrease is significantly higher release of dislocation in stress reduction. As a result, dislocation
than for perpendicular direction. At the temperature of 200°C, movement speed changes between extreme values. At low
the modulus drops to about 2/3 of its value at the temperature speed, the strain progress caused by stress increase is slow
of 25°C in the former case, and to about 85% in the latter case. and once it achieves sufficient value for dislocation release,
It should be noted that Rm, ReL, Rp0,2 and E charts presented the fast plastic flow phase starts, causing stress decrease. Re-
in Fig. 4 are highly correlated with the results of the experiments. leased dislocations intercept atoms of impurities on their way
As regards the elongation At, charts presented in Fig. 4 show only again, which results in dislocation slowing down and that cycle
qualitative nature of the change of its value depending repeats again (Przybyłowicz (1999, 2002)). It should be noted that
on the temperature. The elongation slightly decreases as the PLC effect occurs only within a certain limited strain speed range.
temperature rises and its achieves the minimum value If the strain rate is sufficiently high, the flow stress is always high-
for 125-150°C, and then gradually rises. er than the dislocation release stress and, as a result, the abrupt
Based on presented research results, one can conclude that strain change is unnoticeable (Courtney (2000)).
main strength properties of the plate made of the alloy 2024-T3
may drop by up to 10% for the operating temperature range rec-
a)
ommended by the manufacturer (max. 120°C).
700 E /100 24

5.2. The Portevin - Le Châtelier effect 650

23
600
The analysis of charts obtained from the research (Fig. 5)
E /100, ReL , Rm , MPa

shows abrupt stress change during tensile test, which is charac- 550 22
teristic for the Portevine-Le Châtelier effect (so called PLC effect).
For better image of those changes, Fig. 5 shows selected ten- 500

At , %
Rm
sion charts for samples cut parallel to the plate rolling direction 21
tested at different temperatures. Those charts were limited only 450
At
to the range where significant plastic strain occurs. Fig. 6 shows
400 20
analogous charts obtained for samples cut perpendicular
to the plate rolling direction. R eL
350
19
300
Tab. 1. Strength properties determined based on monotonous tensile
tests of 0,16” thick samples made of non-clad plates 250 18
of aluminium alloy 2024-T3
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225
Temperature E ReL Rp0.2 Rm At T , °C
Direction b)
°C MPa %
25 68 563 367.5 - 488.8 23.9 700 24
Parallel to the plate rolling

50 66 879 367.5 - 483.0 23.2 E /100

650
75 70 403 361.8 - 471.1 23.4 23
direction

100 65 564 360.3 - 466.2 18.4 600

E /100, ReL , Rm , MPa

125 62 863 354.0 - 440.7 16.5

550 22
150 62 082 348.3 - 422.5 17.7 At
175 66 814 318.2 - 394.2 19.1 500
At , %

200 46 624 312.9 - 383.2 22.2 Rm 21

25 64 456 - 323.6 478.0 21.7 450
Perpendicular to the plate

50 65 674 - 320.4 470.9 24.1 400 20

rolling direction

75 72 926 - 314.4 453.3 20.0

100 65 965 - 307.4 449.3 21.8 350
19
125 64 721 - 279.8 433.6 21.1 300
R p0,2
150 60 858 - 305.7 414.9 19.4
175 66 886 - 306.7 420.2 18.8 250 18
200 53 675 - 270.0 367.7 23.4 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225
T , °C
Fig. 4. Changes of strength properties determined based on monotonous
The Portevin-Le Châtelier effect is characteristic, among others, tensile tests of samples made of aluminium alloy 2024-T3 cut
for non-ferrous metal alloys (e.g. brass and aluminium alloys) parallel (a) to the plate rolling direction and perpendicular (b)
as well as for iron at elevated temperatures. It manifests to the plate rolling direction, depending on the test temperature

64
 acta mechanica et automatica, vol.6 no.3 (2012)

500 , MPa 500 , MPa

400 400

T = 25 °C T = 25 °C
300 300
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25

500 , MPa 500 , MPa

400 400

T = 50 °C T = 50 °C
300 300
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25

500 , MPa 500 , MPa

400 400

T = 75 °C T = 75 °C
300 300
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25

500 , MPa 500 , MPa

400 400

T = 100 °C T = 100 °C
300 300
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25

500 , MPa 500 , MPa

400 400

T = 125 °C T = 125 °C
300 300
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25

500 , MPa 500 , MPa

400 400

T = 150 °C T = 150 °C
300 300
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25

500 , MPa 500 , MPa

400 400

T = 175 °C T = 175 °C
300 300
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25

500 , MPa 500 , MPa

400 400

T = 200 °C T = 200 °C
300 300
0 5 10 15 20 , % 25 0 5 10 15 20 , % 25

Fig. 5. Tensile tests charts for samples made of aluminium alloy 2024-T3 Fig. 6. Tensile tests charts for samples made of aluminium alloy 2024-T3
cut parallel to the plate rolling direction for different temperature cut perpendicular to the plate rolling direction for different
values temperature values

65
Adam Lipski, Stanisław Mroziński
The Effects of Temperature on the Strength Properties of Aluminium Alloy 2024-T3

There are also more mechanisms of PLC effect presented REFERENCES

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(2007) and by Ho (2000) and Klose (2004). 2. ASTM E 21 – 05 (2005), Standard Test Methods for Elevated
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made of aluminium alloy 2024-T3, one can notice, that PLC effect International.
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as 25°C. Stress fluctuations were most intense within the temper- Rate Sensitivity by Using the Viscoplasticity Theory Based
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at the temperature of 200°C. While for samples cut perpendicular Xiaoping W., Jinghong F. (2007), Three types of Portevin–Le
to the rolling direction, stress jumps become less intense Chatelier effects: Experiment and modeling, Acta Materialia, Vol. 55,
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6. SUMMARY and stress controlled tensile tests, Dissertation, Technischen
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tropic strength properties of the plate associated with the plate Wydawnictwa Naukowo-Techniczne, Warszawa (in Polish).
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The PLC effect occurring at the conditions of the performed (in Polish).
tensile tests, depends on the temperature and the direction
of sampling with respect to the plate rolling direction. The effect
occurs even at such low temperature as 25°C, and is most in- The scientific research was supported by the scientific funds for the years
tense in the temperature range 50-75°C, and then it gradually 2011-2013, identified as the research project no. 1215/B/T02/2011/40.
decreases as the temperature rises. The PLC effect is more dis-
tinct is case of sampling parallel to the plate sheet rolling direction.

66