Reducing mechanical asymmetry in wrought magnesium alloys

Many wrought magnesium alloys exhibit a characteristic asymmetry in mechanical properties when tested in compression and tension. In this paper, the fundamental origins of the asymmetry effect in wrought magnesium alloys are discussed and strategies to reduce asymmetry are presented. It is shown that both weakening the typical strong basal texture and introducing basal plate precipitates are predicted to reduce, but not eliminate, asymmetry in agreement with experiment. The implication of these results on the design of wrought magnesium alloys is discussed. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.