Reducing tension–compression yield asymmetry by free end torsion in extruded Mg alloy

Free end torsion was carried out on extruded Mg alloy AZ31. Subsequently, tension or compression was implemented on pretorsion specimens. The microstructures of samples with 100 and 200° of pretorsion reveal that no obvious change has occurred; however, samples with 300 and 400° of pretorsion show that there are extensive twins. Compressive yield stress of pretorsion samples increases with increasing pretorsion angle. However, their tensile yield stress exhibits practically the same value with extruded samples. Consequently, yield asymmetry ratio increases from 0.55 of extruded sample to 0.84 of sample with 400° of pretorsion. Both textures rotated around the radial axis by free end torsion, and different deformation mechanisms of compression and tension deformation result in decrease in yield asymmetry.