Interaction between cyclic loading and residual stresses in titanium matrix composites

Metal matrix composites are gaining popularity for applications where high performance materials are needed. Titanium matrix composites (TMCs) continuously reinforced by silicon carbide fibres are under development for applications in aeroengines. Their use in blades, rings and shafts promises a significant weight reduction and performance improvement due to their high specific strength and stiffness. To obtain the whole capabilities of the material not only advanced processing techniques but also post-processing treatments are necessary. A detailed analysis of the residual stress development during cyclic loading leads to the necessity of residual stress modifications to optimise the fatigue behaviour of TMCs. Since the aerospace industry requires high reliability of the materials used, models for predicting failure and life time are of special interest. Predictive models based on the properties of the single constituents of the composite are most suitable to reduce the number of experiments and to develop methodologies to improve specific mechanical properties. Nevertheless, both experiments on the single constituents as well as on the composite are necessary to validate the model. A previously developed rheological model is used to assess different post-processing procedures to improve the fatigue behaviour of a titanium matrix composite. The usage of the model and experiments on the system SCS-6/Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo are presented. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.