Abstract:A series of AZ80 billets were compressed with 60% height reduction on hot process simulator at 250, 300, 350, 400 ℃ under strain rates of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 s⁻¹. In order to predict the occurrence of surface fracture, the values of the Cockcroft-Latham equation were calculated by the corresponding finite element numerical algorithm developed. A concept about damage incremental ratio in plastic deformation was defined as the ratio of damage increment at one step to the accumulated value. A method of finding the intersection of incremental ratio varying curve and simulation step axis was brought forward to make the fracture step certain. Then, the effects of temperature and strain rate on critical damage value were achieved. The results show that the critical damage value is not a constant but changes in a range of 0.021 8−0.378 0. It decreases significantly with the increase of strain rate at a certain temperature. While under a certain strain rate, the critical damage value has little change with the increase of temperature.

Key words: AZ80 magnesium alloy; critical damage value; compaction; finite element analysis