The influence of specimens geometry on the PLC effect in Al–Mg–Mn (5182) alloy

The paper reports results of the study of specimens geometry influence on the Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) effect in Al-4.5 Mg-0.4 Mn (5182) alloy. Tensile tests were carried out in air at a room temperature using samples cut out of the same piece of material, which systematically differed in the ratio of section perimeter to cross-section area. Serrations on the stress–strain curves during tensile tests have been analyzed quantitatively using methods of signal analysis. The results show that PLC effects depend on the geometry of specimen cross-sections. A suggestion is put forward that this is related to propagation effects of elastic–plastic disturbance accompanying the PLC effect.