Assessment of mechanical shear response using digital image correlation

Abstract

In this work, a special tool, developed for running shear tests using a universal tensile testing machine is described, as well as the procedures used for strain data acquisition via Digital Image Correlation (DIC). Testing procedures were developed and verified by testing two aluminium alloys widely used in welding construction, the heat-treatable AA6082-T6 and the non-heat-treatable AA5083-H111 aluminium alloys, which are characterized by markedly different strengthening mechanisms, having completely different mechanical behaviour under large plastic deformations. Microstructural analyses were accomplished in order to evaluate the accuracy of strain data acquisition by DIC in capturing the strain gradients along the gage section of the shear samples.