Fatigue properties of aluminum alloy reinforced by SiC particles.

Fatigue properties of aluminum alloy reinforced by SiC particles were studied under rotating bending conditions. The tests on three kinds of SiC volume fraction (0%, 10%, 20%) were carried out, and both fatigue life and fatigue crack growth were observed. Furthermore, the causes of fracture and the fracture mechanism were investigated by an electron microscope.The results obtained are summarized as follows:(1) The fatigue limit of aluminum alloy with SiC particles became higher as the volume fraction increased. For example, the fatigue limit with 20% volume fraction rised up to 40% than that with 0%.(2) The influence of large particles of SiC, over 80-100μm, on the fatigue life was clarified.(3) The fatigue crack growth rate decreased with increasing SiC volume fraction, and the growth rate with 20% volume fraction was about a fifth of that with 0%.