Fatigue-life prediction of SiC aluminum composite using a Weibull model

The feasibility of the acoustic emission technique in predicting the residual fatigue life of 6061-T6 aluminum matrix composite reinforced with 15 vol.% SiC particulates (SiC_p) is presented. Fatigue damages corresponding to 40, 60 and 80% of total fatigue life were induced at a cyclic stress amplitude. The specimens with and without fatigue damage were subjected to tensile tests. The acoustic emission activities were monitored during tensile tests. The number of cumulative AE events increased exponentially with the increase in strain during tensile tests. This exponential increase occurred when the material was in the plastic regime and was attributed mainly to SiC particulate/matrix interface decohesion. Cumulative events during post fatigue tensile tests reduced with a decrease in the residual fatigue life. Based on the high cycle fatigue damage accumulation model, a Weibull probability distribution model is developed to explain the post fatigue AE activity of specimens during tensile tests. Using the model, the residual fatigue life can be predicted by testing the specimen in tension and monitoring the AE events. In high cycle fatigue, it was observed that the residual tensile strengths of the material did not change significantly with prior cyclic loading damages since the high cycle fatigue life was dominated by the crack initiation phase.