Deformation behaviour of aluminium 6082T6 under high strain rates

Lightweight aluminum alloys such as AA6082-T6 are increasingly used in structures subjected to impact and crash loading, creating a critical need to understand and reliably predict their mechanical behavior under high-strain-rate conditions. This study investigates the dynamic compressive behavior of aluminum alloy AA6082T6 under high-strain rates, which are relevant in industries like aerospace, defense, automotive, and marine. Traditional testing methods, such as Taylor impact tests and split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) tests, are expensive and resource-intensive, making finite element simulations an appealing alternative for material characterization. This paper explores the effects of striker velocity (10, 20, 30, and 40 m/s), striker shape (circular flat, circular round, and square), and specimen shape (circular and square) on AA6082T6’s dynamic behavior using SHPB simulations. The results demonstrate a strong sensitivity of the material response to strain rate, striker shape, and specimen geometry. Increasing the striker velocity from 10 to 40 m/s enhanced the ultimate compressive strength (UCS) by approximately 22% while reducing the true yield strength (YS) by 28%. Furthermore, square strikers improved the UCS by 2.5%, whereas square specimens increased the true YS and UCS by 9% and 2%, respectively.