Evolution of damage in AA-5083 processed by equal channel angular extrusion using different die geometries

In this study, the influence of the die geometry on the introduced damage of the processed parts by ECAE is studied. It will be shown experimentally and by FEM simulations that the die geometry greatly influences the imparted damage, if the die geometry is not selected adequately. This could lead to obtain processed materials which could be useless for posterior mechanical applications because of cracks nucleated inside of them, which will decrease the mechanical properties such as fatigue resistance and formability among others. Several FEM models have been solved in order to obtain a mathematical model to predict the influence of the die geometry. Moreover, several parts have been processed using different die geometries in order to determine the damage within the processed material experimentally and also to validate FEM simulations. A 5083 aluminium alloy in (O) state, which means that has been fully annealed, has been selected and different die geometries have been manufactured for processing this aluminium alloy.