The effects of heat treatments (T6 and T73) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and high cycle fatigue behavior of modified AA7075 alloys were investigated. A modified 7075 alloy was manufactured using modified-Mg (Mg-Al2Ca) instead of the conventional element Mg. Based on the microstructure, the average grain size was 4.5 ㎛ (T6) and 5.2 ㎛ (T73). Regardless of heat treatment, the modified AA7075 alloys consisted of Al matrix containing homogeneously distributed Al2CuMg and MgZn2 phases with reduced Fe-intermetallic compound. Room temperature tensile tests showed that the properties of modified 7075-T6 (Y.S.: 622MPa, T.S: 675MPa, elongation: 15.4%) were superior to those of T73 alloy (Y.S.: 492MPa, T.S: 548MPa, elongation: 12.8%). Experimental data show that the fatigue life of T6 was 400 MPa, about 64% of its yield strength. However, the fatigue life of T73 alloy was 330 MPa and 67%. Irrespective of the stress level, all crack initiation points were located on the specimen surface, and no inclusions acting as stress concentrators were seen. Superior mechanical properties and high cycle fatigue behavior of modified AA7075-T6 alloy are attributed to the fine grains and homogeneous distribution of small second phases such as MgZn2 and Al2CuMg, in addition to reduced Fe-intermetallic compounds.

A new concept of ammunition without the use of explosive gunpowder has been recently studied, which achieves performance equal to or higher than that of high explosives. Frangible Armor Piercing (FAP) is one of the concepts, which utilizes a tungsten alloy penetrator specialized for fragmentation. To investigate the fracture behavior of the tungsten alloy penetrator, Taylor impact tests were conducted at various impact velocities. Additionally, finite element analysis was performed to predict the fracture behavior of the tungsten alloy. Compression tests were also carried out at six strain rates for dynamic material properties and the dynamic hardening behavior was successfully predicted with the Lim-Huh model. Finally, the Mohr-Coulomb fracture model based on the mean stress was adopted to predict impact failure in Taylor impact simulation. The analysis predicts the deformation and fracture behaviors of the tungsten alloy successfully.

The present study demonstrated the effects of processing variable and alloying elements on the processing window of austempered cast iron, one of the heat-treatable cast irons, in order to elucidate the relation between heat treatment and microstructure in terms of time and temperature. Such microstructure is strongly affected by austenitizing conditions and alloying elements. The size of processing window tends to increase initially with increasing austenitizing temperature from 1123 to 1173 K, followed by a decline in the reverse direction between 1173 and 1223 K. Thus, the optimized processing window with large frame was found at an austenitizing temperature of 1173 K. To determine the effect of Sn addition, the processing window in the sample was created by the addition of 0.08 wt.% Sn, which appeared larger than that without Sn and with 0.06 wt.% Sn.

In this study, response surface method (RSM) was used in modeling and multi-objective optimization of the parameters of AA5052-H32 in incremental sheet forming (ISF). The goals of optimization were the maximum forming angle, minimum thickness reduction, and minimum surface roughness, with varying values in response to changes in production process parameters, such as tool diameter, tool spindle speed, step depth, and tool feed rate. A Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) was used to develop an RSM model for modeling the variations in the forming angle, thickness reduction, and surface roughness in response to variations in process parameters. Subsequently, the RSM model was used as the fitness function for multi-objective optimization of the ISF process based on experimental design. The results showed that RSM can be effectively used to control the forming angle, thickness reduction, and surface roughness.

Magnesium alloys are used in electronic devices such as laptops due to their lightweight features as well as vibration absorption and electromagnetic shielding properties. However, the precision of electronics is limited by the large number of small and precise ribs, the cost-effective manufacture of which requires appropriate technology. Plate forging is an efficient manufacturing process that can address these challenges. In this study, plate forging of magnesium alloys was investigated specifically for the fabrication of laptop cover. The plate forging process with back-pressure was used for near-net shape formation. Finite element analysis was used to select appropriate variables for back-pressure formation to generate ribs of various sizes and shapes without defects. The reliability of the analysis was verified to manufacture the prototype. The effect of back-pressure can be verified via fabrication of prototypes as well as structure and forming analysis based on finite element method. The process design factor of back-pressure increases formability without defects of under-filling and flow-through. Moreover, the tensile strength was maintained even after high temperature plate forging at 370 ℃, and the elongation was improved.

The success of warm forming of Mg alloy sheet is greatly influenced by friction at elevated temperature, depending on the surface treatment of the tool. The tool coating affected the frictional characteristics of AZ31B Mg alloy sheet at elevated and room temperatures. The frictional behavior of the Mg alloy sheet at room temperature was not significantly affected by surface treatment conditions of the tool, but was significantly affected at elevated temperature. When the contact pressure is high, a few surface-treated tools exhibit a higher coefficient of friction than those without surface treatment. It is important to select the surface treatment conditions of the tool in order to ensure appropriate friction during warm forming of Mg alloy sheet.