Flow stress
Flow stress is defined as the instantaneous value of stress required to continue plastically deforming the material - to keep the metal flowing. The flow stress for a given material in continuum mechanics is dependent upon the temperature, , true strain, , and strain rate, . Generally, above 0.5 Tm (the absolute melting temperature of an alloy) the plastic deformation mechanisms favour strain rate sensitivity whereas at room temperature metals are generally strain-dependent. Therefore, it can be written as some function of those properties[1]:
The exact equation to represent flow stress is dependent upon the particular material and the plasticity model being used. Other models may also include the effects of strain gradients[2].
It is the middle value between yield strength and ultimate strength of the metal as a function of strain, which, for some materials, can be expressed:[3]
- Yf = Kεn
- Yf = Flow stress, MPa
- ε = True strain
- K = Strength Coefficient, MPa
- n = Strain hardening exponent
Hence, Flow stress can also be defined as the stress required to sustain plastic deformation at a particular strain.
The flow stress is a function of plastic strain.
The following properties have an effect on flow stress: chemical composition, purity, crystal structure, phase constitution, exit microstructure, grain size, and heat treatment[4].
The flow stress is an important parameter in the fatigue failure of ductile materials. Fatigue failure is caused by crack propagation in materials under a varying load, typically a cyclically varying load. The rate of crack propagation is inversely proportional to the flow stress of the material.
References
- Saha, P. (Pradip) (2000). Aluminum extrusion technology. Materials Park, OH: ASM International. p. 25. ISBN 9781615032457. OCLC 760887055.
- Soboyejo, W. O. (2003). Mechanical properties of engineered materials. Marcel Dekker. pp. 222–228. ISBN 9780824789008. OCLC 649666171.
- Mikell P. Groover, 2007, "Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing; Materials, Processes, and Systems," Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- "Metal technical and business papers and mill process modeling". 2014-08-26. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2019-11-20.