Elevated-temperature elastic moduli of 2024 aluminum obtained by a laser-pulse technique

Elastic waves were generated in slender polycrystalline 2024 aluminum rods by the deposition of laser energy into the ends of the rods with a Q-switched laser. The propagation velocities of the waves were measured in the temperature range of 22° to 500°C. The elastic moduli of the material determined from these wave-propagation measurements are compared with previously reported single-crystal and polycrystalline aluminum data at elevated temperatures. Elastic moduli for polycrystalline 2024 aluminum agree with other reported data below about 200°C. Above this temperature, the 2024 aluminum moduli were found to decrease more rapidly with temperature than did those for single-crystal aluminum, although not as drastically as has been previously reported for polycrystalline aluminum.