Cyclic Deformation and Fatigue Behavior of Short Fiber Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites

단섬유보강 금속복합재료의 반복적 변형 및 피로특성

Al6061 alloy reinforced with 15 volume% of Saffil fibers was fabricated by squeeze infiltration method. Uniform distribution of reinforcements and good bondings between reinforcements and matrix alloy were found in the microstructure of composites. Comparing with A16061 matrix alloy, tensile strength and elastic modulus of $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$/Al composites were increased up to 26% and 31%, respectively. Cyclic deformation and fatigue behavior of $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$/Al metal matrix composites were studied. The specimens were cycled using tension-tension(R=0.1) loading and under load controlled fatigue test. Cyclic stress-displacement curve through fatigue test was obtained. Fatigue strength of $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$/Al composites was about 200 MPa, i.e.0.55 of applied stress level(q). During fatigue test, $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$/Al composites displayed cyclic hardening at all applied stress levels. The most of resultant displacement due to permanent plastic deformation occurred in less than the first 5% of fatigue life. Displacement-to-failure of the fatigue test was smaller than that of the tensile test because of accumulative damage by cumulative plastic deformation.