Determination of rheological parameters of the Cross model for semi-solid Al7075 by using parallel plate compression and backward extrusion experiments

Metallic alloys exhibit rheological behavior similar to non-Newtonian fluids in the semi-solid temperature range. This behavior can be described using rheological models. In this study, the viscosity of semi-solid 7075 aluminum alloy was measured by using the results of load-displacement signals obtained from two different experiments: parallel plate compression and backward extrusion. The obtained data were used to determine the parameters of the Cross model in a wide range of shear rates. The effects of temperature (solid fraction) and shear rate were studied on the viscosity of the alloy. The results showed that with increasing temperature and decreasing the solid fraction the resistance to flow decreases, resulting in a reduced amount of applied forces. This reduction in applied forces results in reducing the viscosity. It was observed that the behavior of semi-solid alloy is shear thinning in which the viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate. Also, the calculated viscosity values of the four parameters Cross model were in good agreement with the obtained experimental results in a wide range of shear rates. The simulation results showed a good agreement of the presented model for predicting the rheological properties and flow behavior of the semi-solid alloy in a wide range of shear rates.