Low cycle fatigue properties and an energy-based approach for as-extruded AZ31 magnesium alloy

Low cycle fatigue tests were conducted to investigate the cyclic deformation behavior and the energy-based criterion of AZ31 magnesium alloy. The alloy exhibited an asymmetric hysteresis loop due to the twinning and detwinning effect. The cyclic stress responses showed cyclic hardening at all total strain amplitudes. To evaluate the plastic strain energy, the Halford-Morrow equation and a modified equation for magnesium alloy were compared. The effect of twinning on the total plastic strain energy dissipated during fatigue life was discussed. The variations of the twin and dislocation densities were also investigated using optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively.