PSI - Issue 26

Sergiu-Valentin Galatanu et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 26 (2020) 269–276 Sergiu-Valentin Galatanu et al. / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

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The specimens were casted under pressure in the same conditions and technological parameters used to obtain the steering wheels. Type 1 specimens with rectangular section (see Fig. 1b) were used for three-point bending tests under static and dynamic loading. 2.1. Static Tests The static three-point bending tests were performed by means of the Universal Test Machine Zwick/Roell Z005 having 5 kN maximum force, equipped with two supports and one mandrel, as shown in Fig. 2. A schematic representation of the three-point test is given in Fig. 2.a, where both the initial and the final configurations are illustrated. Two pictures taken at the start and at the end of the test are provided in Fig. 2.b and 2.c, while the deformed specimens are displayed in Fig. 2.d. With reference to the parameters in Fig. 2, the distance between supports is given by the formula: ( ) (1) where D is the diameter of the mandrel or plunger (20 mm) and a is the sheet specimen thickness (3 mm). Tests were performed at room temperature ( 23°C ) with a loading speed of 1 mm/s according to ASTM E290 – 97. The bending force was applied slowly to allow plastic deformation of the material. Bending test was stopped when an angle α of 120º was reached, Fig. 2 (d).

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Fig. 2. (a) Schematic representation of three-point bending test, (b) initial configuration; (c) final configuration; (d) Specimens after the static bending tests.