Mechanisms of growth by short fatigue cracks in notched and smooth specimens of Al-SiC composites
- Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
The growth rates and mechanisms of short fatigue cracks in Al-SiC composites have been studied in various researches. Few of these works, however, have used the same types of specimens and/or testing conditions. Nevertheless, comparisons between the results of the same or similar materials using different testing methods have been common. Little work has been performed to assess whether such comparisons are reliable. This study examines the growth of short fatigue cracks for both notched and smooth specimens of a 2xxx-type aluminum matrix reinforced with silicon carbide particulates to investigate whether the growth rates and mechanisms can be properly compared. Notched specimens are the primary sources of long crack and physically-short crack data. On the other hand, growth data involving microstructurally-short cracks, or microcracks, are followed from smooth specimens. The results of this study indicate that there can be significant differences in the growth rates of short cracks in notched and smooth specimens of Al-SiC composites with the former being up to 2 orders higher. The growth mechanisms of short cracks in the two types of specimens, however, appear to be quite similar.
- OSTI ID:
- 62976
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-941016--; ISBN 0-87339-247-7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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