Quasi-static and dynamic compression behaviour of an FPTM alumina-reinforced aluminium metal matrix composite

An aluminium metal matrix composite reinforced with continuous unidirectional -alumina fibres has been compression tested at quasi-static and dynamic strain rates. In the transverse direction, the composite showed increasing flow stress (at 5% strain) and maximum stress within the studied strain rates, 10^–3–3 × 10³ s^–1. In the longitudinal direction, the maximum stress of the composite increased similarly with increasing strain rates within the range 10^–5–7 × 10² s^–1. It is shown that, if brooming of the sample ends can be suppressed, the failure stress of the composite in longitudinal compression increases significantly. Metallographic observations reveal the typical modes of damage initiation in the composite.