Revealing the complex effects of particle bands on fatigue crack growth in an extruded aluminium matrix composite

Complex effects of reinforcements on the fatigue crack growth behavior in a wrought Al matrix composite were quantificationally studied by hierarchical characterizations in consideration of particle bands. The results show that crack growth mechanisms of the composite does not only inherit the effect of matrix microstructures, but also significantly affected by TiB2 particles. For the TiB2 particles, they can exert the blocking effect to fatigue crack growth, but it is experimentally dependent on the particle band width. The in-situ observations and microstructural evolutions close to fracture surface were discussed in light of fatigue crack growth mechanisms in the composite.

Automated summary

This study quantitatively investigated the complex effects of reinforcements on the fatigue crack growth behavior in a wrought Al matrix composite by hierarchical characterizations considering particle bands. The results indicate that the crack growth mechanisms of the composite are influenced not only by the matrix microstructures but also by the TiB2 particles. The blocking effect of TiB2 particles on fatigue crack growth was found to be experimentally dependent on the particle band width. In-situ observations and microstructural evolutions near the fracture surface were discussed in relation to the fatigue crack growth mechanisms in the composite.