A Detailed Investigation of the Effect of Hydrogen on the Mechanical Response and Microstructure of Al 7075 Alloy Under Medium Strain Rate Impact Loading

Abstract

Effects of hydrogen and temperature on impact response and corresponding microstructure of aluminum (Al) 7075 alloy were investigated under medium strain rate impact loading. The specimens were subjected to impact energy of 12 J and 25 J, corresponding to impact velocities of 2.13 m/s and 3.08 m/s, respectively. These energy levels were decided after a couple of impact tests with different impact energy values, such as 6 J, 10 J, 12 J, 25 J. The experiments were conducted at five different temperatures. Electrochemical charging method was used for hydrogen charging. Microstructural observations of hydrogen uncharged and hydrogen charged specimens were carried out by scanning electron microscope. Hydrogen changed the crack propagation behavior of Al 7075 alloy depending on the temperature. Coexistence of several hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms, such as hydrogen enhanced decohesion (HEDE) and hydrogen enhanced localized plasticity (HELP) were observed under impact loading. The impact response of Al 7075 was significantly deteriorated by the hydrogen charging and changing temperature affected the absorbed energy of hydrogen-charged specimens. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to uncover the atomistic origin of hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms under impact loading. In particular, hydrogen decreased the cohesive energy and enhanced the average dislocation mobility. Therefore, the experimental results presented herein constitute an efficient guideline for the usage of Al alloys that are subject to impact loading in service in a wide range of temperatures. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.