Flow curve modelling of a ZM21 magnesium alloy and finite element simulation in hot deformation

The present investigation deals with the development of a methodology to predict the flow behaviour of the ZM21 magnesium alloy in given intervals of temperature and strain rate by FEM simulation of torsion testing. Equations based on the hyperbolic sine of flow stress and on the multiple linear regression were proposed and implemented into the finite element code. The flow curve shapes obtained by simulation were compared with experimental ones that were not used in the building phase of the equations. It was found that the simulation of torsion tests allows, under given conditions of temperature, strain rate and deformation levels, to obtain flow curve shapes very similar to those obtained by experiments under conditions not included in the building of the models.