Abstract
The elastic behavior and the thermal expansivity of metal-matrix composites have been investigated using ultrasonic velocity and strain gage measurements. The composites used in this study consisted of three aluminum alloys reinforced with different concentrations of SiC particles. The results show that the elastic constants increase and the coefficients of thermal expansion decrease with particle content. The results also show that the behavior of elastic constants with reinforcement can be best represented by the calculations of the upper and lower bounds of Hashin and Shtrikman. The behavior of thermal expansion, however, agrees with bounds developed by Schapery. In addition, both properties are found to be related through a model linking the strain to the elastic and thermal stresses in the composite. This relationship gives promise for the nondestructive characterization of the composites using these measurements.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Z. Hashin and S. Shtrikman.J. Mech. Phys. Solids 11:127–140 (1963)
J. M. Dewey.J. Appl. Phys. 18:578–581 (1947)
E. H. Kerner.Proc. Phys. Soc. 69B:808–813 (1956)
H. M. Ledbetter.J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 79(2):239–248 (1986)
B. Grelsson and K. Salama.Res. Nondestr. Eval. 2:83–96 (1990)
Z. Hashin and B. W. Rosen.J. Appl. Mech. 31:223–232 (1964)
R. M. Christensen and F. M. Waals.J. Compos. Mat. 6:518–532 (1972)
P. S. Turner.J. Res. Nat. Bur. Stand. 37:237–250 (1946)
R. A. Schapery.J. Compos. Mat. 2:380–404 (1968)
A. J. Dekker,Solid State Physics, p. 33, McMillan, New York (1960)
V. M. Levin.Meckanika Tverdoga Tela 2:88–94 (1967); English translation inMech. Solids 2: 58–61 (1967)
E. P. Papadakis.J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 40:1045–1051 (1967)
P. A. Foltyn. Nondestructive Investigation of Thermal Stresses in Metal Matrix Composites Using Ultrasonic Velocity Measurements, Master's Thesis, University of Houston, Houston, TX (1992)
Z. Hashin.J. Appl. Mech. 29:143–150 (1962)
J. D. Eshelby.Proc. Royal Soc. London Ser. A 241:376–396 (1957)
M. Spies and K. Salama.Res. Nondestr. Eval. 1:99–109 (1989)
R. Truell, C. Elbaum, and B. B. Chick,Ultrasonic Methods in Solid State Physics, Academic Press, New York (1969)
E. Schreiber and N. Soga.J. Amer. Ceramic Soc. 49:342–342 (1966)
T. A. Hahn and R. W. Armstrong.Int. J. Thermophys. 9:861–871 (1988)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Orrhede, M., Tolani, R. & Salama, K. Elastic constants and thermal expansion of aluminum-SiC metal-matrix composites. Res Nondestr Eval 8, 23–37 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02434042
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02434042