LAUSR

Abstract The electroplastic effect (EPE) encompasses the known reduction in flow stress and increase in ductility in a metal resulting from the application of an electric current concurrently with deformation, a phenomenon which cannot be accounted due solely to resistive heating. While several theories have been postulated, the mechanism responsible for the electroplastic effect is still in debate after nearly 60 years of scientific research. A significant amount of research has been conducted on the anomalous effects observed when performing research on the EPE. Particular behaviors which remain elusive are the transient effect of electric current application and the difference between constant and pulsed current applications. Throughout literature, the type of power supply used in electric current application appears to be ignorantly selected and output signals improperly or incompletely documented. It was found herein that the type of power supply used in electrically assisted tensile testing can have a significant effect on the resulting transient mechanical behavior for pulsed current testing within the parameters explored in this research.