Abstract
Abstract
Longitudinal tensile tests have been conducted on unidirectional SiC fibre reinforced 6061 aluminium matrix composites in the annealed and as-manufactured conditions. The results are presented in terms of stress-strain curves and tangent modulus-strain relations, which show considerable non-linearity. Corresponding micromechanical finite element modelling is performed including the effects of the manufacturing process on the matrix in-situ properties. The analysis shows that the non-linear behaviour of the composite is caused by the elastic-plastic deformation of the matrix alloy. The matrix fully yields during the cooldown from manufacturing. Residual stress relaxation plays an important role in the stress-strain characteristics of the annealed aluminium matrix composite by introducing some initial elastic deformation. The amount of elastic deformation for the as-manufactured condition is greater because of subsequent age hardening. However, more linear elastic deformation was observed than predicted in the as-manufactured specimens, which is believed to be due to higher precipitation hardening caused by metallurgical effects induced in the manufacturing process.
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