Fatigue behaviour of aluminium matrix composites reinforced with continuous alumina fibres

Abstract

Alumina (N610) reinforced pure Al (A9) or Al–2 wt-%Cu alloy (AU2) unidirectional (UD) composites which combine a highly ductile matrix with a strong interface bonding, present high static and dynamic mechanical performances. In the present paper, the fatigue behaviour of quasi­UD N610+A9 and N610+AU2 composites is investigated. Notwithstanding the presence of the transverse bundles, the longitudinal behaviour in tension and fatigue of these quasi-UD composites is nearly equivalent to that of the pure UD. Only in the case of the N610+AU2 quasi-UD composite, the fatigue limit is about 30% lower than that of the pure UD. Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring correlated with microfractography and microstuctural examinations has enabled identification of different stages in the evolution of damage and the association of these with damage and failure mechanisms. In fatigue, three main damage mechanisms are activated in a sequential and/or superposed mode during a three stage evolution.