Title: Effect of machining parameters on high-cycle fatigue behaviour of aluminium matrix composites reinforced with silicon carbide particulates

Authors: Ali Mkaddem, Mohamed El Mansori

Addresses: LMPF: Laboratoire de Mecanique et Procedes de Fabrication, EA-4106, ENSAM: Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers, Rue saint dominique B.P. 508 – 51006 Chalons-en-Champagne, France. ' LMPF: Laboratoire de Mecanique et Procedes de Fabrication, EA-4106, ENSAM: Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers, Rue saint dominique B.P. 508 – 51006 Chalons-en-Champagne, France

Abstract: The proposed paper aims to investigate the impact of the machining conditions on the machinability and fatigue variance of aluminium matrix composite reinforced with silicon carbide particulates (SiCp). An experimental approach using three machining speeds and two feed rates has been conducted for preparing test specimens. Firstly, the surface quality of machined specimen is studied through different roughness inspections which lead to display clearness the influence of machining parameters on the finished surfaces. Secondly, the morphology of uncoated tungsten carbide tools used for turning operations is discussed. Then, tensile test is conducted in order to describe how material behaves and to determine yield stress value under which fatigue stresses would be chosen for tests. Finally, the fatigue tests were carried out on cut specimens and fatigue life for the considered composite is studied under two stress amplitudes, using 4-point reversed bending loads. Different experiments have been performed at room temperature up to failure in order to investigate the behaviour of material in each case of chosen domain. Particularly, the behaviour of composites under stress-controlled conditions has been discussed.

Keywords: metal matrix composites; MMCs; experiment; machining parameters; high-cycle fatigue; aluminium matrix composites; silicon carbide particulates; surface roughness; machining speed; feed rate; turning; tungsten carbide tools; uncoated tools; tensile testing; stress.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2009.026669

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2009 Vol.36 No.1, pp.38 - 46

Published online: 22 Jun 2009 *

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