Relationship between Fracture Toughness and Tensile Properties of A357 Cast Aluminum Alloy

The fracture-related mechanical properties of the A357 cast aluminum alloy, namely, elongation to fracture, tensile strain energy density (tensile toughness), strain-hardening exponent, and plane strain fracture toughness were investigated. Correlations between these properties have been established for 25 different artificial aging heat-treatment conditions and for five minor variations in chemical composition. Empirical relationships between the strain energy density and both the tensile elongation to fracture and the strain-hardening exponent have been developed. Analysis of the fracture surfaces indicated that the fracture mechanism of the investigated specimens varies according to the artificial aging conditions. Moreover, empirical relationships between the fracture toughness and strain energy density and between fracture toughness and strain-hardening exponent have been developed; these can be used to estimate the plane strain fracture toughness of A357 as a function of yield strength and tensile toughness.