Abstract
From a mesoscopic viewpoint, the effects of SiC particles on fatigue crack initiation and growth behavior in an A6061-T6 metal matrix composite (MMC) were investigated with a topographical approach employing a laser-type profile measurement microscope. The results are summarized as follows. Fatigue crack of MMC grew and stopped sporadically and crack propagation rate decreased with a decrease in the number of particles. Fatigue crack of MMC originated from the aluminum matrix and the crack growth was a shear mode. Thus, the fractured surface showed crystallographic facets. The number of facets on the fractured surface decreased with increasing number of particles, since SiC particles in the aluminum matrix were resistant to shear mode crack growth. Crack growth changed from shear mode to brittle-like monotonic fracture mode when SiC particles cracked.
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