Sphere contact fatigue of a coarse-grained Al2O3 ceramic

The opposite sphere test is an appropriate tool to determine crack‐growth exponents for fatigue under repeated contact loading. Lifetime measurements for a coarse‐grained Al₂O₃ are reported. To explain the fatigue exponents that strongly deviated from those obtained in cyclic bending tests, a fracture mechanics analysis was carried out. It was aimed at determining the correct stress intensity factor solution for the tests, including limited dimensions of test specimens deviating from the case of a cone crack in a half space. Cone crack development was observed microscopically and the related stress intensity factors were computed for the observed crack shape. For modelling the fatigue behaviour, it is assumed that the fatigue effect is influenced by a reduction of the shielding term of crack growth resistance due to periodical friction between the grain‐interlock bridges in coarse‐grained alumina. This results in a loss of traction at the junctions, crack tip shielding is reduced, and the effective load at the crack tip is increased.     

AN EXPERIMENTAL PARAMETER Jmax IN ELASTIC-PLASTIC FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH

Abstract— Imitating Garwood's 3-parameter technique, an experimental parameter J _max was introduced to predict fatigue crack growth rate (d a /d N ) over a wide range including small scale yielding and large scale yielding. It was found that for a Δ K -increasing fatigue test condition, J _max is a valid parameter. A significant crack growth acceleration, caused by a transition of fracture mechanism, occurs when J _max= J _IC The fracture mechanism involving striation formation when J _max < J _IC becomes ductile tearing when J _max > J _IC Equations to predict the effect of stress-ratio on J _max as well as on d a /d N are given.     

FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR OF Al2O3 SHORT FIBRE REINFORCED ALUMINIUM ALLOY

The room temperature fatigue strengths of A1-7Si-0.6Mg and A1-SSi-3Cu-1Mg composites randomly reinforced with A1₂O₃ short fibres were determined using a stress ratio of 0.1, a frequency of 50 Hz. The fatigue strength of the composites under these testing conditions can be expressed by a single curve-fitting equation. The effect of surface roughness on fatigue strength was also studied and the results show that these composites are not sensitive to surface roughness. The orthogonal growth of cracks is an important fatigue fracture mechanism in these composites. The residual strength decreased as the fatigue load increased.     

FATIGUE BEHAVIOR OF A PLASMA-SPRAYED 8%Y2O3-ZrO2 THERMAL BARRIER COATING

Abstract— Thick thermal barrier coatings with thicknesses on the order of a few millimeters are being developed for use in diesel engines with operating temperatures of about 800°C. In this environment, a coating will experience thermomechanical cycling due to differences in elastic and thermal expansion properties between the coating and the substrate. The inelastic constitutive behavior of the coating material results in both compressive and tensile stresses. To observe the effects of such stresses, specimens of plasma-sprayed 8%Y₂O₃-ZrO₂ were fabricated to allow testing of the coating material independent of the substrate. Cyclic compression fatigue tests were conducted at room and high temperature (800°C) to simulate the loading environment to which the coating materials will be exposed during service. At high temperature, the compressive fatigue strength of the coating material increased by nearly 100%. Fatigue tests in tension and combined tension/compression were conducted at room temperature to evaluate the effect of mean stress. It was observed that a varying mean stress had no significant impact on the fatigue lives of the coating material and the fatigue life was controlled by the maximum tensile stress of the cycle. Results from fatigue tests and SEM observations indicated that the damage accumulated during the tensile and the compressive portions of the fatigue cycle were independent of each other.     

MECHANISMS AND FATIGUE PERFORMANCE OF TWO STEELS IN CYCLIC TORSION WITH AXIAL STATIC TENSION/COMPRESSION

Abstract— Fatigue tests conducted under fully reversed cyclic torsion, with and without superimposed axial static tension/compression loads, were carried out using hour-glass smooth specimens in laboratory air. A high strength spring steel and a 316L stainless steel, were employed to evaluate the effects of mean stress on fatigue performance. Experimental test results show that a biaxial tensile/compressive mean stress had no influence on the cyclic stress-strain response in both materials. However a biaxial tensile mean stress was found to be detrimental to fatigue life of the high strength spring steel but had no effect on the total fatigue life of 316L stainless steel. A compressive mean stress was found to be beneficial to the life of both steels. The fatigue behaviour of the two materials was investigated by experimental observations and the application of theoretical analyses of short crack growth behaviour. Based upon the analysis of surface acetate replicas it has been found that fatigue crack growth is material/stress-state dependent. A biaxial tensile static stress promoted a change in the direction of the Stage I (mode II) crack from the longitudinal direction to a plane normal to the specimen axis in the high strength steel but not in the stainless steel. Consequently a different growth behaviour of Stage I (mode II) cracks was observed for the two materials. The effect of a biaxial mean stress on fatigue crack growth behaviour of the two materials is analysed and described in some detail.     

CYCLIC FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH AND CLOSURE BEHAVIOUR IN ALUMINA CERAMICS

Cyclic fatigue crack growth behaviour in alumina ceramics is investigated and the effect of grain size discussed. Special attention is given to crack closure effects. Cyclic fatigue tests were carried out using four-point bend specimens, and the load–strain and load–differential strain curves were monitored. These curves show hysteretic behaviour probably related to frictional sliding of bridging grains, and also include non-linearities due to crack closure. The crack opening load is determined from the load–differential strain curve by using a method introduced in this study. Growth rates can be successfully described by the relationship da/dN = C[ΔK_{eff /(1 ? Kmax /KIC )]m} which is proposed in this study to account for the effects of crack closure and the maximum stress intensity factor. Irrespective of grain size, growth rates can be well represented by the above relationship, implying that the grain size exerts an influence on growth rates not only because of crack closure behaviour but also the material fracture toughness. The growth rate curve based on the proposed relationship shows a sigmoidal form for ceramic materials, which is similar to metals.     

Strength recovery of machined Al2O3/SiC composite ceramics by crack healing

Alumina is used in various fields as a machine component. However, it has a low fracture toughness, which is a weakness. Thus, countless cracks may be initiated randomly by machining, and these cracks decrease the component's mechanical properties and reliability. To overcome this problem, a crack‐healing ability could be a very useful technology. In this study, Al₂O₃/SiC composite was sintered. This alumina exhibits excellent crack‐healing ability. Small specimens for a bending test were made from the Al₂O₃/SiC. A semicircular groove was machined using a diamond ball‐drill. The machining reduced the local fracture stress from approximately 820–300 MPa. The machined specimens were crack‐healed under various conditions. The fracture stress of these specimens after crack healing was evaluated systematically from room temperature (RT) to 1573 K. It was found that the local fracture stress of the machined specimen recovered almost completely after crack healing. Therefore, it was concluded that crack healing could be an effective method for improving the structural integrity of machined alumina and reducing machining costs.     

反应热压(Al2O3+TiB2+Al3Ti)/Al复合材料的低周疲劳行为

采用反应热压法以Al、B₂O₃、TiO₂粉和Al、B、TiO₂粉为原料制备了两种(Al₂O₃+TiB₂+Al₃Ti)/Al复合材料。后一种原料粉制备的复合材料从基体中析出了细小的Al₃Ti相。研究了应变控制原位生成复合材料的室温低周疲劳行为。结果表明,在应变幅较小时(ε_</em>t≤0.3%),不含Al₃Ti析出相的材料表现为循环稳定;而在应变幅较大时(ε_</em>t≥0.4%), 则表现为第一周的循环硬化和随后的循环软化。在所采用的应变幅下,含Al₃Ti析出相的材料均表现为循环稳定。疲劳裂纹萌生部位为Al₃Ti相断裂、Al₃Ti相与基体的界面开裂和基体中微裂纹。疲劳裂纹穿过基体,绕过Al₂O₃、TiB₂质点扩展。两种复合材料的疲劳寿命均符合Coffin-Manson公式。      

Crack-healing and mechanical behaviour of Al2O3/SiC composites at elevated temperature

Alumina/silicon carbide (Al₂O₃/SiC) composite ceramics with large self‐crack‐healing ability, high strength and high heat‐resistance limit temperature for strength were developed and subjected to three‐point bending. A semicircular surface crack 100 μm in diameter was made on each sample. Crack‐healing behaviour was systematically studied, as functions of crack‐healing temperature and healing time, and the fatigue strengths of the crack‐healed sample at room temperature and 1373 K were investigated. Four main conclusions were drawn from the present study. (1) Al₂O₃/SiC composite ceramics have the ability to heal after cracking from 1273to 1673 K in air. (2) The heat‐resistance limit temperature for strength of the crack‐healed sample is ?1573 K, and ?68% of the samples fractured from outside the crack‐healed zone in the testing‐temperature range 873–1573 K. (3) The crack‐healed sample exhibited very high fatigue limit at room temperature and also 1373 K. (4) The large self‐crack‐healing ability is a desirable technique for the high structural integrity of ceramic component.     

DYNAMIC FATIGUE AND COMPUTER SIMULATION OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF Y2O3-ZrO2 CERAMICS

Abstract— There is a critical stress rate K _c for each of the three ZrO₂ ceramics tested. Fracture is controlled by the materials polycrystal fracture toughness, K ^c_p, if the stress rate is less than K _c. Otherwise, fracture is controlled by the single crystal fracture toughness, K ^c_s. The crack growth parameters determined by dynamic fatigue experiments can only represent macrocrack growth behaviour although the fracture of specimens in experiments originates from small surface flaws.     

氧化铝基陶瓷复合材料的阻力曲线行为及其抗热震性能

采用压痕-弯曲强度法获得了Al₂O₃-SiC_W和Al₂O₃-TiC_P陶瓷基复合材料的裂纹扩展阻力曲线(R-曲线),并测试了材料的抗热震性能,分析了材料的阻力曲线行为与其抗热震性能之间的内在联系。结果表明:材料的阻力曲线行为与抗热震性之间存在明显的相关性。热震引起材料强度的下降幅度与其阻力曲线的陡峭程度及上升幅度有关。阻力曲线越陡峭,上升幅度越大,抗热震性也越好。其中Al₂O₃-SiC_W复合材料显示出更为优越的抗裂纹扩展能力与抗热震性能。扫描电镜观察及理论分析显示:晶须的拔出与桥联补强增韧机制是产生这一现象的主要原因。     

(Al2O3)f/Al复合材料在强界面结合下的疲劳损伤模式

在拉-拉载荷下测定了(Al₂O₃)_f/Al复合材料的疲劳寿命(S-N)曲线。通过夭折试验以及SEM疲劳断口和纵截面组织结构分析,研究了复合材料的疲劳损伤模式。研究结果表明,(Al₂O₃)_f/Al复合材料的疲劳极限为750MPa,远高于SCS-6碳化硅纤维增强钛基复合材料。该复合材料兼有钛基和树脂基纤维复合材料疲劳损伤的特点,高应力下由单个裂纹的起源和生长导致复合材料的失效;低应力下,疲劳损伤模式包括纤维劈裂、众多基体裂纹和单个基体裂纹的横向扩展。其中纤维劈裂是主控机制。其更高的疲劳极限可归因于低应力下纤维的纵向劈裂。     

Preliminary study of the crack healing and strength recovery of Al2O3-matrix composites

This study focused on the crack‐healing behaviour of three commercial Al₂O₃–ceramic‐matrix composites: TiC_P/Al₂O₃, ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ and SiC_W/Al₂O₃. Vickers indentation was used to introduce surface flaws with different loads of 49, 98 and 196 N. Then the cracked specimens were annealed in air for 1 h at 1000, 1200 and 1400 °C. The annealing treatment was also conducted at 1200 °C in vacuum for 1 h. Results showed that the annealing treatments increased the indentation strength, but the extent of the increase was different. When annealed in air, the main crack‐healing mechanism of TiC_P/Al₂O₃ and SiC_W/Al₂O₃ composites was chemical reaction. When annealed in vacuum, stress relaxation caused much less strength recovery. The main crack‐healing mechanism of ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ was the existence of low melting eutectic and the rearrangement of grains caused by ZrO_2(m)→ ZrO_2(t) transformation in the crack‐opening process zone. The effects of annealing temperature, atmosphere and indentation load on the degree of strength recovery were all related to the crack‐healing mechanisms.     

NEAR-THRESHOLD FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH IN A12O3 PARTICLE REINFORCED 6061 ALUMINIUM ALLOY

Abstract— The influence of Al₂O₃ particle reinforcement on the fatigue crack growth properties of 6061-T6 aluminium alloy in the near threshold regime has been investigated at a load ratio of R =– 1 using an alloy with 15 vol.% fine particles (6061/Al₂O₃/15p) and one with 21 vol.% coarser particles (6061/Al₂O₃/21p). The Al₂O₃ particles act as obstacles for fatigue crack growth and are especially effective at very low cyclic loads. For the reinforced alloy with fine particles the threshold of the stress intensity amplitude is higher than that for the alloy containing coarse particles, and the lowest threshold value of K _max was obtained for pure 6061-T6. Fracture of ceramic particles and interfaces between matrix and Al₂O₃ particles, both more frequent for coarser particles, may serve as an explanation for the more effective improvement of fatigue crack growth properties by fine particles. At maximum stress intensity factors above 6.5 MPa√m, fatigue crack growth in the particle reinforced alloys is faster than in the unreinforced alloy 6061-T6, which is attributed to more frequent particle and interface fracturing.     

On the giga cycle fatigue behaviour of two-phase (α2+γ) TiAl alloy

Fatigue crack initiation behaviour is investigated at room temperature in the (α₂-Ti₃Al and γ-TiAl) alloy. High cycle fatigue tests ranging up to 10¹⁰ cycles are carried out on the powder metallurgy (P/M) bar specimens under different loading conditions with a stress ratio of R=0.1 and R=0.5. Microstructural characterization and fracture surface analysis are also investigated by optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ti–Al alloy studied here shows two phases in microstructure (nearly refined lamellar thickness) composed of α₂-Ti₃Al and γ-TiAl (hereafter called γ+α₂ alloys) and fracture mechanism is explained with different plastic incompatibilities between the two phases.     

SiO2玻璃原位反应合成Al/Al2O3复合材料

利用SiO₂玻璃具有易近成型、致密及各向同性的特点,通过SiO₂玻璃与铝熔体间的反应合成了Al/Al₂O₃复合材料,克服长期以来在合成Al/Al₂O₃复合材料时均采用颗粒反应物的局限。反应产物是一种组织均匀致密的Al 与Al₂O₃互为网络的Al/Al₂O₃陶瓷基复合材料。反应温度升高,整个反应产物中的Al的体积分数上升。Al/Al₂O₃复合组织在三维空间的真实形态中存在着Al相被Al₂O₃完全包围的形态,证明了网络状Al₂O₃组织形成的烧结机理。与合成Al/Al₂O₃的其它工艺相比,本工艺可在1000℃的较低温度进行,并具有反应速度快、断裂韧性和抗弯强度值高的特点。     

A NEW METHOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF MODE II FATIGUE THRESHOLD STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR RANGE ΔKτth

Abstract— In order to evaluate the threshold value Δ K _τth for mode II fatigue crack growth, a new measurement method of mode II fatigue crack growth has been developed. This method uses a conventional closed-loop tension—compression fatigue testing machine without additional loading attachments. Mode II fatigue tests for structural steel and rail steel have been carried out. This method has proved successful and has reproduced mode II fatigue fracture surfaces similar to those found in the spalling of industrial steel-making rolls. The crack length during testing was measured by an AC potential method. The relationships between d a /d N and Δ K _τ and AK _τth for several materials have been obtained.     

LIFE PREDICTION BY SIMULATION OF CRACK GROWTH IN NOTCHED COMPONENTS WITH DIFFERENT MICROSTRUCTURES AND UNDER MULTIAXIAL FATIGUE

A modelling procedure was developed which is applicable to crack growth in notched components subjected to multiaxial fatigue for materials with different microstructures. An algorithm for crack growth, in a microstructure that was modelled as hexagons, was established as a competition between growth by crack linkages during the crack initiation and propagation stages and the propagation of a dominant crack as a single crack. Analytical results simulated by using the developed model were compared with experimental results from fatigue tests which had been conducted using notched specimens of pure copper, carbon steel and two kinds of titanium alloy. Cracking morphology, which was experimentally observed to depend on the microstructure and the loading mode, was well simulated using the present model. The fatigue failure life of a notched specimen was statistically estimated by a Monte Carlo procedure based on the model. The simulated life with a statistical scatter-band almost coincided with the experimental data.