A structural study of the influence of pressure on shear band formation

Experiments have been performed to show the influence of applied pressure on the formation of localized shear bands in a naturally aged Al-Zn-Mg alloy. The results indicate that the onset of localization is insensitive to applied pressure but that the development of the bands is pressure sensitive indicating that dilational damage occurs during the growth of bands. Detailed electron microscopy studies indicates that although the overall macroscopic orientation of the bands may be nonrational they consist of sequential regions of localized shear on crystallographic planes and narrow regions of multi-slip.