FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR OF AL/SiC FIBERS COMPOSITES PRODUCED BY SQUEEZE CASTING TECHNIQUE

In the present work, the fatigue behaviour of pure aluminium
reinforced with Sic fibers composite has been investigated. The composite
was fabricated by squeeze casting technique with different values of fibers
volume fraction Vf. Rotating bending fatigue test was used to compare the
fatigue strength of the composite with matrix material. Fatigue fracture
hrfaces of specimens were investigated by macroscopic and SEM
observations.
The influence of volume fraction of fibers on the fatigue life was
discussed. The obtained results showed that, in comparison with pure
aluminium, the fatigue strength at 10' cycles of the composites is superior
by 9 1.3% and 90.2% fbr Vf = 45% and Vf = 3 5% , respectively. Fatigue
crack does not propagate along the fibers-matrix interface, he propagates
in the matrix. The fatigue strength ratio of Sic/& composites indicated
about 0.71.