On anisotropic tensile mechanical behavior of Al–Cu–Li AA2198 alloy under different ageing conditions

The anisotropic mechanical behavior of Al–Cu–Li (AA2198) alloy under different artificial ageing conditions as well as for different thicknesses of the material was examined in the present investigation. Material characterization was performed for three different sheet directions, namely, longitudinal (0°), diagonal (45°) and transverse (90°) to the rolling direction. The results showed that the grain structure did not have significant changes by applying different artificial ageing times. In T3 heat treatment condition, only δ′ (Al₃Li) phase was observed, while with increasing the ageing time, the major precipitates were T₁ (Al₂CuLi) phases. The latter was found to increase in size with artificial aging time. Almost similar yield strength values were observed for all investigated thicknesses, while the higher thickness specimens showed higher elongation at fracture values. Anisotropy was slightly higher at T3 condition, while the lowest anisotropy degree was noticed at the peak-aged condition. The specimens extracted in the diagonal direction showed high variation in mechanical properties, when compared with the respective results at the other two investigated directions, independently from the thickness of the specimens as well as from heat treatment condition. The smaller thickness specimens presented lower elongation at fracture values and for all investigated sheet directions, since they undergo plane stress conditions. Analysis of work hardening behavior showed that Bauschinger effect, which was not observed in T3 condition, became increasingly more prominent with artificial ageing time in all directions investigated.