Effects of Reinforcement Parameters on Fatigue Strength of Aluminium-Based Particulate-Reinforced Composites

Abstract

A study on low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue behaviour of 6061-Al2O3composites reinforced with nominal volume fractions of 10% and 20% of Al2O3particulates is presented. The effects of reinforcement geometrical features (volume fraction and size) and of the loading mode experienced during the different kind of fatigue tests (strain controlled and stress controlled tests) were evaluated. A relation with crack growth mechanisms was drawn by analyses on fracture surfaces and on longitudinal sections of specimens subjected to the fatigue tests. The micromechanisms of cyclic deformation and of microstructural damage acting in the materials are discussed and compared to data and observations available from the wide published literature.