Determination of strain-hardening exponent using double compression test

In this investigation a new method for determination of strain-hardening exponent (n) is introduced. The presented method is named "Double Compression Test" in which two specimens with the same composition and geometrical dimensions but different processing background are compressed simultaneously. One of the two specimens is in annealed condition while the other has experienced a predetermined amount of pre-strain. This difference leads to different final length of the specimens which can be used in the theoretical relation presented to calculate the strain-hardening exponent. The major advantage of this method is its independency to the stress-strain data which is essential in the conventional method for determination of strain-hardening exponent. The test was performed experimentally and the results were compared with those obtained by the conventional method. Finally. the test was simulated using the commercial finite element code, ABAQUS/Explicit, to investigate it in more details. Experimental and simulation results showed that this test is capable of determining strain-hardening exponent with good accuracy. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.