Abstract
The fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth characteristics of an Al2O3-SiC whisker composite were investigated. Quasi static fracture experiments were conducted on double edge-notched tension specimens and on four-point bend specimens containing a through-thickness Mode I crack which was introduced under uniaxial cyclic compression. The toughness results obtained using this procedure are more reproducible than those derived from the indentation technique and the notched bend bar method. The fracture toughness of the composite is about 60% higher than that of the unreinforced matrix material. Crack growth characteristics at room temperature were also investigated in notched plates of Al2O3-SiC subjected to fully compressive far-field cyclic loads. In the presence of a stress concentrator, this composite is found to be highly susceptible to fatigue crack growth under cyclic compressive loads.
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