Title: Fracture toughness evaluation technique for metal matrix composites using ball indentation method

Authors: V. Umasankar; M. Anthony Xavior

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering and Building Sciences, VIT University, Vellore-632014, India ' School of Mechanical Engineering and Building Sciences, VIT University, Vellore-632014, India

Abstract: Aluminium composites are finding greater applications and widely used in aeronautical and automobile industries. It is essential to understand the fracture toughness characteristics of the composites in view of the hard ceramic particle reinforcement especially when the composite is manufactured to net shape by powder metallurgy route. This paper discusses the findings of the fracture mechanism and breaking load bearing capacity of the composite by continuous indentation with the hardened steel ball. Depth of indentation and load vs. deformation curves have been found. It is found that the processing parameters and reinforcement percentage are important. However further studies may be required to assess the fracture toughness properties of the composite.

Keywords: aluminium alloys; SiC; silicon carbide; powder metallurgy; fracture toughness; metal matrix composites; MMCs; ball indentation; load bearing capacity; deformation; processing parameters; reinforcement percentage.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2015.066176

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2015 Vol.7 No.1, pp.132 - 141

Published online: 04 Dec 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article