The fatigue and final fracture behavior of SiC particle reinforced 7034 aluminum matrix composites

In this research paper, the cyclic stress-amplitude-controlled fatigue response and fracture behavior of aluminum alloy 7034 discontinuously reinforced with silicon carbide particulates (SiCp) is presented. In view of the limited ambient temperature ductility, test specimens of the 7034/SiCp composite, in both the under-aged and peak-aged conditions, were cyclically deformed under stress-amplitude-control at an elevated temperature corresponding to the aging temperature of the alloy. The cyclic fatigue tests were conducted at two different load ratios with the objective of documenting the conjoint influences of intrinsic composite microstructural effects, nature of loading, and magnitude of cyclic stress amplitude on cyclic fatigue life and fracture characteristics. The final fracture behavior of the composite is discussed in light of the concurrent and mutually interactive influences of composite microstructural effects, deformation characteristics of the composite constituents, nature of loading, and resultant fatigue life. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.