Effect of thermal residual stresses on fatigue crack opening and propagation behavior in an Al/SiCp metal matrix composite

M.E. Fitzpatrick, M.T. Hutchings, J.E. King, D.M. Knowles, P.J. Withers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The effects of a thermal residual stress field on fatigue crack growth in a silicon carbide particle-reinforced aluminum alloy have been measured. Stress fields were introduced into plates of material by means of a quench from a solution heat-treatment temperature. Measurements using neutron diffraction have shown that this introduces an approximately parabolic stress field into the plates, varying from compressive at the surfaces to tensile in the center. Long fatigue cracks were grown in specimens cut from as-quenched plates and in specimens which were given a stress-relieving overaging heat treatment prior to testing. Crack closure levels for these cracks were determined as a function of the position of the crack tip in the residual stress field, and these are shown to differ between as-quenched and stress-relieved samples. By monitoring the compliance of the specimens during fatigue cycling, the degree to which the residual stresses close the crack has been evaluated. © 1995 The Minerals, Metals & Material Society.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3191-3198
Number of pages8
JournalMetallurgical and Materials Transactions A
Volume26
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1995

Keywords

  • aluminum alloys
  • crack propagation
  • fatigue of materials
  • heat treatment
  • mechanical variables measurement
  • neutron diffraction
  • plate metal
  • quenching
  • residual stresses
  • silicon carbide
  • temperature
  • thermal stress
  • compressive stress
  • crack closure levels
  • crack tip
  • fatigue crack opening
  • fatigue cycling
  • tensile stress
  • thermal residual stresses
  • metallic matrix composites

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