The　damage　mechanism　of　commercial　2060　(T8)　aluminum　alloy　during　bending　was　studied.　The　microstructure　evolution　and　strain　localization　were　investigated　by　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM),　electron　backscattered　diffraction　(EBSD)　and　digital　image　correlation　(DIC)　methods.　A　new　method　based　on　the　dispersion　distribution　of　copper　powders　was　developed,　which　can　be　used　to　simultaneously　characterize　the　strain　distribution　and　microstructure　evolution　of　the　same　region.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　macro　shear　band　is　formed　during　the　bending,　and　the　crack　grows　along　the　macro　shear　band.　This　phenomenon　can　be　attributed　to　the　larger　volume　fraction　of　small　angle　grain　boundaries　(SAGBs)　formed　in　the　macro　shear　band,　and　less　energy　is　needed　if　the　crack　propagates　in　the　direction　of　macro　shear　bands.　Copyright　©　2019,　Northwest　Institute　for　Nonferrous　Metal　Research.　Published　by　Elsevier　BV.　All　rights　reserved.