A Effect of SiC on Fatigue Characteristics of Al-SiC Metal Matrix

Fatigue of materials is a progressive localized permanent structural change occurring in the material subjected to conditions that produce fluctuating stresses and strains at some point or points that may culminate in cracks or complete facture after a sufficient number of fluctuations. It is a significant and often a critical factor in the testing, analysis and design of engineering components for machines, structures, aircraft, automobiles and power plants etc. The Metal Matrix Composite is a material which consists of metal alloy reinforced with continuous fibers, whiskers, or particulates of ceramics. Among the several engineering materials, discontinuously reinforced Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs) are increasingly being considered for aerospace and automotive industries.In the present study, A6061 with 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% SiCp MMC material was fabricated using stir casting (vortex method) method. The vortex method is one of the better known approaches used to create and maintain a good distribution of the reinforcement material in the matrix alloy. From the fatigue test, it is found that fatigue life of the composite with 9% SiCp as reinforcement has longer life.