Profilometry‐Based Indentation Plastometry for Evaluating Bulk Tensile Properties of Aluminum‐Silicon Carbide Composites

Abstract

The need for large samples with specific geometries and the destructive nature of conventional tensile testing pose a challenge in the rapid mechanical characterization of metal matrix composites (MMCs). Herein, the efficacy of a high‐throughput profilometry‐based indentation plastometry (PIP) technique for evaluating bulk tensile properties of SiC‐reinforced aluminum MMC with minimum sample volume and preparation is investigated. Plastic properties, namely yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation up to necking (εn) in aluminum composites reinforced with 0, 17.5, and 25 vol% of SiC from PIP, are compared with uniaxial tensile tests. While PIP estimations of YS for all composites and UTS for Al‐17.5 vol% SiC are accurate within 3–6%, those of UTS in 25 vol% and εn in all composites show significant deviation from tensile test data. These deviations are attributed to the PIP overestimation of strength due to local SiC crowding beneath the indenter and the limitation of the Voce plasticity‐based FEM simulation in capturing brittle behavior of high vol% reinforcement. Herein, the high‐throughput PIP technique that can be reliably extended to MMCs with low volume (≈17.5%) of SiC reinforcements is established, thus harboring potential for advancement in the nondestructive testing of MMCs.

Exploring the Potential of Wire Fed Direct Energy Deposition of Aluminum–Boron Nitride Nanotube Composite: Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties

“…PIP is based on indentations larger than 1 mm in diameter, causing enough deformation to capture the bulk properties. [35] The properties of MMCs estimated by PIP were in close agreement with the bulk properties for composites with reinforcement volume fraction of <17.5%, [36] which supports the present estimations. The yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of Al-BNNT are 47 and 129 MPa, 130% and 29% higher than Al1100.…”

“…The tensile properties were evaluated by PIP. [ 35,36,39 ] The technique involves estimating stress–strain curves via indentation using the iterative FEM based on the Voce plasticity equation. [ 35,39 ] …”

“…The tensile properties were evaluated by PIP. [35,36,39] The technique involves estimating stress-strain curves via indentation using the iterative FEM based on the Voce plasticity equation. [35,39]…”

Assessment and Non-Destructive Evaluation of the Influence of Residual Solvent on a Two-Part Epoxy-Based Adhesive Using Ultrasonics

“…Destructive testing, which involves using lab-type instrumentation that requires a specific sample preparation and geometry, is mainly performed to characterize the mechanical properties of materials [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. It has also been used to characterize the curing kinetics of polymeric materials.…”