METAL FORMING AND PLASTIC PROCESSES

Assignment 1
Question 1

a In which way does Hydrostatic pressure affect the following properties of a metal?
i Yield Strength
ii Ductility and formability
iii Fracture during forming
b Explain the process and effects of recrystallization in metal forming processes.[4]
c Explain the effects of the following components to the yield strength of a material.
i Strain hardening
ii Strain rate
iii Temperature of metal and microstructure

[6]

[10]

[Total =20 marks]

Answer: 1
a)
i.

As the hydrostatic pressure increases the yield strength of the metal increases too
this was proved by Spitzig et al. the yield is lower when in tensional yield strength
as compared to a higher yield when in compression yield strength but the gradient
of the linear lines of the elation between true stress and hydrostatic pressure is the

ii.

same.
When the hydrostatic pressure increases the ductility of the metal as shown by
Bridgeman this is phenomenon is referred to pressure induced ductility. This also
applies to the formability of the meta that also increases as the hydrostatic
pressure increases.it is to be noted that the hydrostatic pressure will not cause

iii.

plastic deformation.
Negative hydrostatic pressure can cause surface cracks this is due to crack
initiation and propagation in the neck region of the metal. The high hydrostatic
pressure will ultimately hold the fracture hence no crack propagation from the
fracture.

b) recrystallization happens when a metal is heated to high temperature of about 0.4-0.6 of

its melting temperature and maintained at that temperature for some time. When the
metal is left to cool at room temperature the old grains that had combined to form one
entire structure start to grow again into bigger grains till the entire structure is covered
completely.
Recrystallization increases ductility and reduces the strength of the metal due to the fact
that the strain hardening effect is removed during this process. Yield strength is
dependent on the grain size as shown by the Hall-Petch formula. The bigger the grain
size formed during recrystallization the flow stress will increase and smaller grain sizes
lead to a low flow stress.
c)
i.

From the diagram below we can see that after the metal has suffered plastic strain
which is shown by OR the yield strength of the metal increases as represented by
the difference from point B to point P this phenomenon is what is called the strain
hardening. The metal is first loaded beyond its yield point then unloaded. That
same metal is then reloaded and yielding will occur at point P.

Figure 1- effect of strain hardening on yield strength (adminstrator, 2010)

ii.

Strain rate being the rate at which the forming process happens. When the strain
rate is high the yield strength is high but flow stress increases at a slow rate due to

iii.

temperature rise in the metal. When the strain rate is low the yield stress increases
with increase in strain rate
With the increase in temperature the yield strength of the metal decreases this is
due to the movement of dislocations in the microstructure which get easier
causing them to readjust due to the stresses locked in the lattice of the metal which
are being weakened by the temperature rise

References
1

adminstrator, 2010. plastic deformation of metals and related properties. In:

plastic deformation of metals and related properties. s.l.:s.n., pp. 1-26.

robert m caddel, j. w. k., 1980. influence of hydrostatic pressure on the yield

strength of anisotropic polycarbonate. Volume 23, pp. 99-104.