Microstructural characterization and high cycle fatigue behavior of investment cast A357 aluminum alloy

In order to observe the influence of strontium (Sr) modification and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) on an aluminum–silicon cast alloy A357 (AlSi7Mg0.6), the microstructure and the high cycle fatigue behavior of three batches of materials produced by investment casting (IC) were studied. The parts were produced by an advanced IC proprietary process. The main process innovation is to increase the solidification and cooling rate by immersing the mold in cool liquid. Its advantage is to produce finer microstructures. Microstructural characterization showed a dendrite arm spacing (DAS) refinement of 40% when compared with the same part produced by conventional investment casting. Fatigue tests were conducted on hourglass specimens heat treated to T6, under a stress ratio of R = 0.1 and a frequency of 25 Hz. One batch of material was unmodified but two batches were modified with 0.007% and 0.013% Sr addition, from which one batch was submitted to HIP after casting. Results reported in S–N diagrams show that the addition of Sr and the HIP process improve the 10⁶ cycles fatigue strength by 9% and 34% respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of the fracture surfaces showed a variety of crack initiation mechanisms. In the unmodified alloy, decohesion between the coarse Si particles and the aluminum matrix was mostly observed. On the other hand, in the modified but non HIP-ed alloy, cracks initiated from pores. When the same alloy was subjected to HIP, a competition between crystallographic crack initiations (at persistent slip bands) and decohesion/failure of intermetallic phases was observed. When compared to fatigue strength reported for components produced by permanent mold casting, the studied material are more resistant to fatigue even in the unmodified and non HIP-ed states.     

Correlation of microstructure with mechanical properties and fracture toughness of A356 aluminum alloys fabricated by low-pressure-casting, rheo-casting, and casting-forging processes

Correlation of microstructure with mechanical properties and fracture toughness of three cast A356 aluminum alloys fabricated by low-pressure-casting, rheo-casting, and casting-forging was investigated in this study. Microfracture observation results showed that eutectic Si particles were cracked first, but that the aluminum matrix played a role in blocking crack propagation. Tensile properties and fracture toughness of the cast-forged alloy were superior to those of the low-pressure-cast or rheo-cast alloy. These results were interpreted by a simple fracture initiation model based on the basic assumption that crack extension initiated at a certain critical strain developed over some microstructurally significant distance.     

A356‐T6 wheels: Influence of casting defects on fatigue design

Rotating bending fatigue tests were executed on A356‐T6 wheels. The tests were performed both on components containing only the casting defects and on wheels in which artificial holes were machined. Results show the detrimental effect of sub‐superficial porosities on fatigue endurance. A predictive model was proposed. It resulted in a useful tool for the designer because knowing the applied stress, it is possible to estimate the number of cycles for crack nucleation considering the size of the defect, whereas knowing the endurance target requested it is possible to find the maximum defect size acceptable considering the applied stress.     

Microstructure-based fatigue modeling of cast A356-T6 alloy

High cycle fatigue (HCF) life in cast Al-Mg-Si alloys is particularly sensitive to the combination of microstructural inclusions and stress concentrations. Inclusions can range from large-scale shrinkage porosity with a tortuous surface profile to entrapped oxides introduced during the pour. When shrinkage porosity is controlled, the relevant microstructural initiation sites are often the larger Si particles within eutectic regions. In this paper, a HCF model is introduced which recognizes multiple inclusion severity scales for crack formation. The model addresses the role of constrained microplasticity around debonded particles or shrinkage pores in forming and growing microstructurally small fatigue cracks and is based on the cyclic crack tip displacement rather than linear elastic fracture mechanics stress intensity factor. Conditions for transitioning to long crack fatigue crack growth behavior are introduced. The model is applied to a cast A356-T6 Al alloy over a range of inclusion severities.     

半固态A356铝合金浆料的充填行为及组织分布

采用流变压铸方法研究了低过热度浇注和弱电磁搅拌制备的半固态A356铝合金浆料的充填行为和组织分布,结果表明：采用该技术制备的半固态A356铝合金浆料,其组织形态优良,经过感应均热后,浆料内部的温度场分布均匀,初生α—Al晶粒更圆整．半固态A356铝合金的浆料温度、压射比压和冲头速度对浆料的充填行为有较大的影响．较高的浆料温度、压射比压和冲头速度都有利于半固态铝合金浆料的充填．在本文的实验条件下,合适的浆料温度为585-595℃,压射比压为15-25MPa,冲头速度为0．072-0．12m／s．得到的流变压铸件的组织分布均匀,无明显的固液相偏析．     

基于遗传算法的低压铸造铝合金车轮工艺优化

为解决低压铸造铝合金车轮质量控制难度大的问题,采用遗传算法对工艺参数进行优化.基于铸造数值模拟结果,利用BP人工神经网络建立了铸造工艺参数与质量控制目标缩松缺陷和凝固时间的非线性关系,采用遗传算法实现了铸造工艺参数的优化.以某型低压铸造A356铝合金车轮为例,对浇注温度、上模温度、下模温度、侧模温度、模芯温度5个参数进行优化,得到的最佳工艺组合,可有效控制缩松缺陷和凝固时间.利用数值模拟结果、建立神经网络模型,采用遗传算法优化的方法,获得近似最优解,有助于优化低压铸造工艺.     

Multiaxial fatigue behaviour of A356‐T6

Aluminum alloy A356‐T6 was subjected to fully reversed cyclic loading under tension, torsion and combined loading. Results indicate that endurance limits are governed by maximum principal stress. Fractography demonstrates long shear mode III propagation with multiple initiation sites under torsion. Under other loadings, fracture surfaces show unique initiation sites coincidental to defects and mode I crack propagation. Using the replica technique, it has been shown that the initiation life is negligible for fatigue lives close to 10⁶ cycles for combined loading. The natural crack growth rate has also been shown to be comparable to long cracks in similar materials.     

Modelling of mechanical properties of cast A356 alloy

In this research, to predict the mechanical properties of A356, a relatively new approach is presented that uses artificial neural network and finite element technique which combines mechanical properties data in the form of experimental and simulated solidification conditions. It is revealed that predictions of this study are consistent with experimental measurements for A356 alloy. The results of this research were also used for solidification codes of SUT CAST software.     

A356铝合金液相线铸造形核规律

研究了液相线铸造A356铝合金在不同保温温度、不同保温时间下的组织形成规律。电子显微镜及图象分析仪分析表明，由于过冷和扩散的共同影响，A356铝合金液相线铸造最佳保温温度605℃；在60min时间内，晶核数目随保温时间的延长而增加，且分布愈加均匀。     

Effects of rheocasting and heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 alloy

The effects of the rheocasting process and T5 heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 alloy were investigated. The results show that the temperature range for the solid-liquid state is roughly between 560 °C and 630 °C, and the solid fraction increases from 0% to 100% with decreasing temperature. The finer microstructure in rheocasting in comparison with the one in conventional casting was attributed to pressure breaking down the secondary dendrite arms, especially for specimens around 600-610 °C. It was proved that rheocasting specimens have improved mechanical properties over the conventional casting ones. Furthermore, the result shows that T5 heat treatment can strengthen A356 alloy, while the plasticity was reduced at the same time.     

Statistical properties of the model parameters in the continuum approach to high-cycle fatigue

This paper is a sequel to papers studying the continuum approach to the high-cycle fatigue model of Ottosen et al. First, we study the estimation of fatigue limit and statistical characteristics of the estimates. We have two cases. Either the fatigue limit is a material constant or it is a random variable. Finally, we derive approximate distributions for the parameter estimators of the fatigue model due to Ottosen et al.     

旋转直管浇注法制备A356铝合金半固态浆料

采用旋转直管浇注法制备A356铝合金半固态浆料,在不同浇注温度和转速下进行了系列试验,并与直管法进行了对比分析。结果表明,在不同转速条件下,浇注温度越低,得到的浆料凝固组织晶粒尺寸就越小,颗粒球化程度越高。与直管法相比,同一工艺参数下,旋转直管法制备的坯料的晶粒更为细小和圆整,并且随着旋转速度的增加,可得到理想浆料组织的浇铸温度区间也随之增大。本实验条件下,当转速为300r/mim时,浇注温度为670℃也能得到较理想的半固态凝固组织。     

Effect of grain size on high-cycle fatigue properties in alpha-type titanium alloy at cryogenic temperatures

High-cycle fatigue properties were investigated at 4, 77 and 293 K in Ti-5%Al-2.5%Sn ELI alloy which was used for liquid hydrogen turbo-pumps of Japanese-built launch vehicles. Mean grain size of specimens was controlled to be about 30 or 80 μm. In the specimens with a grain size of 30 μm, fatigue strengths at 10⁶ cycles at 4 and 77 K are 1.6 and 1.5 times higher than that at 293 K, respectively. On the other hand, in the specimen with a grain size of 80 μm, fatigue strengths at 10⁶ cycles at 4 and 77 K get lower to the same level as that at 293 K. Thus, it is concluded that refinement of α grains is one of important factors to obtain the good high-cycle fatigue properties for Ti-5%Al-2.5%Sn ELI alloy at cryogenic temperature.     

Thermal fatigue behavior of squeeze cast, discontinuous alumina-silicate fiber-reinforced aluminum alloy (A356) composite

Microstructural damage mechanisms owing to thermal cycling and isothermal exposure at elevated temperature are studied for a short alumina-silicate fiber-reinforced aluminum alloy (A356) composite produced by pressure casting. The tensile strength of the metal matrix composite is found to degrade considerably in each case. An X-ray double-crystal diffraction method is employed to study the mechanisms of recovery in the matrix. The fractal dimension of the X-ray “rocking curves” for individual grains in the composite reflects the substructure formation owing to the rearrangement of dislocations into subdomain walls. Recovery by polygonization is more pronounced in the case of thermal cycling than for equivalent isothermal exposure. The residual stresses in the matrix that provide the fiber clamping force undergo more relaxation in the case of isothermal exposure. The two competing damage mechanisms, thermally activated recovery by polygonization and relaxation of clamping stresses in the matrix, result in identical strength degradation (25%) for both thermal cycling and isothermal exposure.     

The influence of modified intermetallics and Si particles on fatigue crack paths in a cast A356 Al alloy

Mechanical fatigue tests were conducted on uniaxial specimens machined from a cast A356-T6 aluminium alloy plate at total strain amplitudes ranging from 0.1 to 0.8% ( R = − 1). The cast alloy contains strontium-modified silicon particles (vol. fract. ~6%) within an Al–Si eutectic, dispersed α intermetallic particles, Al₁₅ (Fe,Mn)₃ Si₂ (vol. fract. ~1%), and an extremely low overall volume fraction of porosity (0.01%). During the initial stages of the fatigue process, we observed that a small semicircular fatigue crack propagated almost exclusively through the Al–1% Si dendrite cells. The small crack avoided the modified silicon particles in the Al–Si eutectic and only propagated along the α intermetallics if they were directly in line with the crack plane. These growth characteristics were observed up to a maximum stress intensity factor of ~ K trmax = 7.0 MPa m^1/2 (maximum plastic zone size of 96 μm). When the fatigue crack propagated with a maximum crack tip driving force above 7.0 MPa m^1/2 the larger fatigue crack tip process zone fractured an increased number of silicon particles and α intermetallics ahead of the crack tip, and the crack subsequently propagated preferentially through the damaged regions. As the crack tip driving force further increased, the area fraction of damaged α intermetallics and silicon particles on the fatigue fracture surfaces also increased. The final stage of failure (fast fracture) was observed to occur almost exclusively through the Al–Si eutectic regions and the α intermetallics.     

Fatigue behavior of dissimilar friction stir welds between cast and wrought aluminum alloys

Cast aluminum alloy, AC4CH-T6, and wrought aluminum alloy, A6061-T6, were joined by means of friction stir welding (FSW) technique. The effect of microstructure and post heat treatment on fatigue behavior of the dissimilar joints was investigated. Near the weld centre, Vickers hardness was lower than in the parent metals and the hardness minima were observed along the trace route of FSW tool’s shoulder edge. Tensile fracture took place on A6061 side where the hardness was minimal, resulting in the lower static strength of the dissimilar joints than AC4CH or A6061. Fatigue fracture occurred on AC4CH side due to casting defects and the fatigue strength of the dissimilar joints was similar to that of AC4CH, but lower than that of A6061. Friction stir process (FSP) and post heat treatment successfully improved the fatigue strength of the dissimilar joints up to that of the parent metal, A6061. __________ Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 1, pp. 150–154, January–February, 2008.     

液相线半连续铸造A356铝合金二次加热合金组织与工艺

采用电子显微镜及图像分析仪，研究了液相线铸造A356铝合金在二次加热过程中的组织变化。结果表明，在固液两相区内，随着加热温度的升高，α相的生长和球化的速度变快。二次加热最佳工艺制度的590℃下保温10min，此时，晶粒平均等级圆直径为38．5μm，晶粒平均圆度为1．92。     

A physics-based model for evaluating hot compressive dwell effects on fatigue crack growth in 319 cast aluminum alloys

Fatigue crack growth under hot compressive dwell (HCD) conditions, a case of creep–fatigue occurring under compressive loading, is an important failure mode in high temperature environments. Creep-induced tensile residual stresses gradually built up in the vicinity of the crack are considered to be a key factor contributing to crack growth under HCD conditions. To understand and quantify this effect, a simple physics-based model has been developed, in which the residual stress contributions associated with creep and plasticity are added to the elastic response of the material to predict crack growth under HCD conditions using Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). Test of a cast 319 Al alloy has been conducted both for material characterization and under baseline and HCD conditions to evaluate the model. With HCD, the crack growth rate was increased on average by a factor of about 6, which is consistent with model predictions.     

交变应力下A356铝合金疲劳行为及微结构演变

对处于交变应力下A356铝合金的单轴疲劳寿命以及变形行为进行了研究,并与单一应力加载下的加载情况进行了对比.发现先进行高应力加载后换用低应力加载将会显著延长合金的疲劳寿命.合金的循环应变值主要与合金的循环加载应力幅值有关.此外,利用透射电镜的方法观察了在不同循环加载历史条件下合金中微观结构的变化情况,尤其是位错以及位错带的演变规律.并发现了沉淀物附近的位错塞积现象.     

稀土Er对A356铝合金微观组织和力学性能的影响

针对传统的A356铝合金,添加稀土元素是改善其微观组织并提高力学性能的有效途径。本工作通过示差扫描量热分析(DSC)、X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)等分析手段来研究稀土Er对铸态A356铝合金组织和性能的影响。结果表明,稀土元素Er是一种能够显著改善A356合金铸态组织的优良变质剂。Er的加入细化了初生α-Al相,二次枝晶间距降低,枝晶臂直径减小,同时对铸态组织中的共晶Si起到了变质作用。当Er含量达到0.4%(质量分数,下同)时,细化效果最为显著,二次枝晶间距由53.6μm减小到17.5μm,共晶硅形貌也由粗大的板条状转变为短棒或圆粒状。与A356合金相比,添加0.4%Er的合金样品的抗拉强度和伸长率分别提高了15.1%,29.8%。