Abstract
The potential use of particle reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) for demanding structural applications highlights the need for an effective method to predict the fatigue performance of notched components. The present paper evaluates the ‘critical strain’ technique and its suitability with respect to particle reinforced MMC alloys. Strain controlled fatigue data generated on the aluminium alloy 2124 reinforced by two different fractions of 2–3 μm SiC particles are used to predict the lives of a ‘pseudocomponent’ representative of engineering situations. It is demonstrated that both alloys are essentially cyclically stable compared with monotonic work hardening curves and, where available, data from tension and torsion modes superimpose on a Von Mises effective stress-strain criterion. The implications of the fatigue life analysis are discussed.
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