Reversed plane bending fatigue tests were conducted on SiC particle aluminum composite. The initiation and growth behaviors of small surface fatigue cracks were continuously monitored by the replica technique and investigated in detail. The fatigue life of MMC is shorter than that of matrix because there exists interface debonding of SiC particles and matrix on the whole face of the notch part in the casting metal matrix composite(MMC). The coalescence of micro-cracks was observed in the tests conducted at high stress levels. Due to the coalescence, a higher crack growth rate of small cracks rather than those of long cracks was recognized in da/dn- max relationship.

본 연구는 SiC입자를 20% 강화된 알루미늄기 복합재료를 이용해서 평면굽힘피로시험을 행했다. 표면미소피로균열의 발생 및 진전거동은 레프리카법으로 연속관찰을 했고 파괴원인과 파괴기구를 규명하기 위해서 주사전자현미경을 이용했다. da/dn - Kmax 관계에서 저응력 레벨에서는 여러 개의 균열이 진전하고, 합체 등이 일어나는 것으로부터 진전속도는 꽤 분산(흐트러짐)이 심하고, 고응력 레벨에서는 비교적 흐트러짐은 적게 나타나는 것을 알 수 있었다.

Keywords: SiC Particle, Fatigue, Crack initiation, Crack growth, Small surface crack, Bending fatigue test, Metal matrix composite

Keywords: SiC 입자, 피로, 균열발생, 균열진전, 미소표면피로균열, 굽힘피로시험, 금속기 복합재료