Loading Mode Dependence of { $$10\bar{1}2$$ 10 1 ¯ 2 } Twin Variant Selection in a Rolled Mg-Al-Zn Alloy

The { $$10\stackrel{-}{1}2$$ } twinning characteristic and its related mechanical behavior were examined in a rolled Mg-Al-Zn alloy via compression along the rolling direction (C-RD) and tension along the normal direction (T-ND). The results show that the twinning behavior greatly depends on the loading mode and the twin variant selection is largely dominated by Schmid factor criterion under both deformation modes. Parallel twin bands consisted by single-type variant and/or para variant are frequently observed in C-RD sample, while intersecting twin structures composed by different twin variant types prevail in T-ND sample. Preliminary analysis suggests that the different twinning characteristics should be responsible for the variations in the yield stress and strain-hardening behavior between the two conditions.