Fracture-toughness testing of metal-matrix composites

Technical Report · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5490165

Tsangarakis, N; Nunes, J; Slepetz, J M

Various specimen designs and test procedures were used to assess the fracture toughness of the following metal-matrix composites: aluminum oxide, continuous-fiber-reinforced aluminum and magnesium, and silicon carbide particulate and continuous fiber-reinforced aluminum. The following types of specimens were examined: the compact tension, the double-edge notched, the center notched, the short-rod, and the Charpy bar. The fracture-toughness values for the ceramic continuous-fiber-reinforced metal-matrix composites were found to be dependent on the geometry of the specimen. Except for cross-ply laminates, fracture tended to occur primarily parallel to fibers. It was inferred that a linear elastic fracture mechanics approach may not be appropriate for the determination of fracture toughness of these materials. The results of the particulate-reinforced metal-matrix composite encourage a further consideration of the ASTM E-399 test procedure as a standard method for the determination of fracture toughness of this type of composite.

• Research Organization: Army Materials Research Agency, Watertown, MA (USA). Materials Technology Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5490165
• Report Number(s): AD-A-210825/6/XAB; MTL-TR--89-51
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ELEMENTS
FIBERS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
GEOMETRY
MAGNESIUM
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICS
MATRIX MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
ORIENTATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
STANDARDIZATION
TESTING