Abstract:The response and failure of brass H62 specimens subjected to different levels of pre-loaded stresses and heating rates were investigated using a Gleeble-1500 thermal-mechanical material testing system. The metallographs of the tested material were also observed and analyzed. It is found that the increase of either pre-loaded stress or heating-rate decreases the failure temperature. Metallographic analysis shows that high heating-rate may cause stronger local thermal inconsistency (LTI) and remarkably increase the microdefects in the material, which may markedly degrade the macroscopic mechanical properties of the material.

Key words: brass H62; pre-loaded stress; heating rate; failure temperature; local thermal inconsistency