---

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.

---

In the current research, the effect of strain path by two processes of conventional asymmetric rolling and asymmetric cross rolling, as well as natural aging on the microstructure and hardness of AA7075 aluminum alloy was investigated. The microstructure was examined by light microscopy and the hardness by macro-Vickers hardness tester. The results showed that the rolled sample (initial sample) had elongated grains due to rolling and the average width of the grains in this sample was 13.4 μm. By applying conventional asymmetric rolling up to 60%, the grains became more elongated and the average grain width reached 2.6 μm. By performing asymmetric cross rolling up to 40%, the average grain width reached 3.7 μm. The distribution of particles did not change significantly with rolling deformation. Shear bands were also formed in the sample after 40% and 60% conventional asymmetric rolling, as well as after 40% asymmetric cross rolling. At zero aging time, the hardness of the 60% conventionally rolled sample was higher than the 40% cross rolled sample. With increasing the aging time, the hardness of all samples increased due to natural aging. As the thickness reduction percentage increased (increasing the strain), the hardness increase percentage due to natural aging decreased. The increase in hardness due to natural aging was more noticeable in the cross-rolling process than in the conventional rolling process. After 7 days of natural aging, the hardness of the material reached its saturation limit.