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Thermal-mechanical fatigue behaviour of alumina fibre/aluminium-lithium composite

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Abstract

Metal matrix composites are candidates for elevated temperature applications. For this reason, it is important to understand their behaviour under thermal-mechanical fatigue conditions. Thermal cycling of a composite material creates thermal stresses in the composite because of thermal expansion mismatch between the fibre and the matrix. This can lead to plastic deformation of the matrix, interface damage, and fibre fracture. Mechanical cyclic loading of the composite during thermal cycling can aggravate the situation even more. A computer-controlled servo-hydraulic thermal-mechanical fatigue test system was used to perform tests on α-Al2O3(FP)/AI-2%Li metal matrix composite specimens. The volume fraction of unidirectionally aligned fibres was 35%. The tests performed were free-expansion tests, fast and slow thermal fatigue tests, and isothermal fatigue tests. Large reductions in the composite strength were observed under thermal fatigue conditions. This degradation can be attributed to observed microstructural damage of the fibre/matrix interface and fibre fracture.

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Author notes

  1. L. K. Kwei

    Present address: US Department of Energy, Rocky Flats Office, 80401, Golden, CO, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 87801, Socorro, NM, USA

    L. K. Kwei & K. K. Chawla

Authors
  1. L. K. Kwei
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  2. K. K. Chawla
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Kwei, L.K., Chawla, K.K. Thermal-mechanical fatigue behaviour of alumina fibre/aluminium-lithium composite. J Mater Sci 27, 1101–1106 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01197665

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01197665

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