Taguchi’s method of optimization of fracture toughness parameters of Al-SiCp composite using compact tension specimens

Abstract

The objective of this work is to investigate the process parameters which influence the fracture toughness of aluminum-silicon carbide particulate composite prepared using the stir casting technique. The Taguchi’s design of experiments is conducted to analyze the process parameters. Three parameters considered are composition of material, grain size and a/W ratio. From the Taguchi’s analysis, on compact tension specimens, aluminum 6061 reinforced with 9 wt% of the silicon carbide particles composite and a/W ratio of 0.45 are considered to be optimized parameters. Taguchi's technique result shows that the increment in the a/W ratio causes decrement in the load carrying capacity of the composite. Whereas the fine grain size of silicon carbide have better toughness values. From the ANOVA outcomes it is clear that the composition and a/W ratio of the geometry has more influence on the fracture toughness than the grain size of reinforcement.