Can Young’s modulus of metallic alloys change with plastic deformation? Antoni Roca 1, a , Aránzazu Villuendas 1,b , Ignacio Mejía 2,c , José Antonio Benito 3,d , Núria Llorca-Isern 1,e , Jordi Llumà 3,f and Jordi Jorba 3,g 1 Dep. Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí Franquès 1, Barcelona, 08028, Spain 2 Instituto de Investigaciones Metalúrgicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Avda. Francisco J. Mújica S/N, Edificio U Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, 58030, México 3 Dep. Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Comte d’Urgell 187, Barcelona, 08036, Spain a roca@ub.edu, b aranzavila@ccit.ub.edu, c imejia@umich.mx , d josep.a.benito@upc.edu, e nullorca@ub.edu, f jordi.lluma@upc.edu, g Jordi.Jorba@upc.edu Keywords: Young’s modulus, metallic alloys, plastic deformation Abstract. The information in the basic references about the relation between elastic constants and particularly Young’s modulus (E) behavior and plastic deformation indicates that this parameter is constant or almost constant. At the beginning of the XX century several authors indicated that E of some metals decreased when cold deformation increased and detected reductions up to 15% in steels, aluminum, copper, brass... In the last years this behavior is taking into account during the finite-element analysis of sheet metal stamping or other plastic deformation processes. This work includes an extensive review of papers of our research team and of other authors related with the behavior of Young’s modulus during plastic deformation of some metallic alloys. This parameter can diminish up to 10% by plastic deformation (tension test) in iron, aluminum, and stainless steel (UNS S 30403) but remains practically unaltered in aluminum alloys deformed before or after aging. Results of Young’s modulus in nanostructured copper and copper alloys determined by ultrasonic technique are also presented. Additional results of Young’s modulus of UNS G10180 and UNS G10430 steels measured during loading and unloading steps in tension test are also included. High differences in the E values were detected between both steps. Introduction The available information shows that elastic constants in metals can change with alloying, temperature and crystallographic orientation. With respect to plastic deformation, and thermal or termomechanic treatments the information indicates that these parameters are constant or almost constant. However, several researchers have been determined the behavior of elastic constants and particularly Young’s modulus (E) with the described treatments [1]. Reductions up to 15% in iron, steels, aluminum, copper and so on have been detected. During decades these changes have not been taken into account in design, but in the last years the knowledge of this behavior is being very important during the finite-element analysis of sheet metal stamping or other plastic deformation processes [2,3]. The objective of this work is to summarize results obtained by our research team, but also of other authors, about the behavior of Young’s modulus versus plastic deformation in iron, stainless steel, aluminum and aluminum alloys. Results obtained on Young’s modulus of nanostructured copper, and copper alloys obtained by mechanical alloying, determined by ultrasonic technique are also presented. Additional results of Young’s modulus of UNS G10180 and UNS G10430 steels measured during loading and unloading steps in tension test are also included. Materials Science Forum Vols. 783-786 (2014) pp 2382-2387 © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.783-786.2382 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 161.116.154.158, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain-25/04/14,11:32:12)