Engineering topics

Lewandowski, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Lewandowski, J. J..

12 records

NASA NTRS1996

Observations of Static Strain-Aging in Polycrystalline NiAl

Static strain-aging has been investigated in eight polycrystalline NiAl alloys. After annealing at 1100 K for 7200 s followed by furnace cooling, high-purity, nitrogen-doped, and titanium-doped alloys exhibited continuous yielding, while conventional-purity and carbon-doped alloys exhibited distinct upper yield points and Luders strains. Either water quenching from 1100 K or prestraining via hydrostatic pressurization suppressed the yield points in the latter alloys, but they could be reintroduced by further annealing treatments. Yield points could be reintroduced more rapidly if the specimens were prestrained uniaxially rather than hydrostatically, owing to the arrangement of dislocations into cell structures during uniaxial deformation. Chemical analysis suggests that the species responsible for strain-aging is interstitial carbon.

Weaver, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Chemical stability of titanium diboride reinforcement in nickel aluminide matrices

Chemical stability of TiB2 reinforcement in NiAl (45 at percent Al) and Ni3Al (24 at percent Al) matrices has been theoretically and experimentally investigated. Calculations were made using thermodynamic properties of the systems to predict behavior at temperatures between 1173 and 1573 K. Experimental investigation of hot-press consolidated TiB2 particulate/prealloyed matrix powder blends were conducted using energy dispersive X-ray analysis, XRD, AES, and TEM. The theoretical and experimental analyses suggest that TiB2 is chemically stable in both matrices up to 1573 K; however, TiB2 was found to be less active in NiAl than in Ni3Al due to lower nickel activity in NiAl.

Rigney, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The decrease in yield strength in NiAl due to hydrostatic pressure

The decrease in yield strength in NiAl due to hydrostatic pressure is examined via a comparison of the tensile flow behavior in the low strain regime at 0.1 MPa for NiAl which was cast, extruded, and annealed for 2 hr at 827 C in argon and very slowly cooled to room temperature. Pressurization to 1.4 GPa produces a subsequent reduction at 0.1 MP in proportional limit by 40 percent as well as a 25-percent reduction in the 0.2-percent offset yield strength, while pressurization with lower pressures produces a similar reduction, although smaller in magnitude.

Margevicius, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Effects of casting conditions and deformation processing on A356 aluminum and A356-20 vol. pct SiC composites

The effects of casting conditions and deformation processing on the mechanical properties of unreinforced A356 aluminum and A356-20 vol pct SiC composite were investigated by tensile properties in these compounds fabricated by either sand casting or squeeze casting techniques followed by hot working to 33, 50, 90, and 95 percent reductions. The evolution of the microstructure and values of tensile properties were evaluated for the cast materials in each of the hot worked conditions. It was found that, while the deformation processing of the sand-cast composite resulted in banding of the Al and SiC particles within the microstructure, such features were not observed in the squeeze-cast microstructure. The tensile strengths of the squeeze cast materials was found to be higher than those of the sand cast materials, for both the unreinforced and composite samples, while increased amounts of deformation were found to improve the ductility of the composite.

Rozak, G. A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Combined mode I-mode III fracture toughness of a particulate reinforced metal-matrix composite

The aim of this investigation was to determine the fracture behavior of a particulate reinfored aluminum alloy composite under combined mode I-mode III loading conditions. A modified three-point bend specimen was used to carry out these tests. It was found that the mode I loading condition was energetically most favorable. Addition of mode III components to the system seems to increase the amount of redundant work during fracture without affecting the critical fracture criterion.

Manoharan, M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

In-situ scanning electron microscope studies of crack growth in an aluminum metal-matrix composite

Edge-notched specimens of a cast and extruded Al alloy-based, alumina particulate-reinforced composite in the annealed condition were tested in situ in a SEM apparatus equipped with a deformation stage permitting the direct observation of crack growth phenomena. Fracture in this composite is seen to proceed by initiation of microcracks ahead of the macrocrack; as deformation proceeds, the microcracks lengthen, and crack propagation occurs when the region of intense plastic straining becomes comparable to the macrocrack-microcrack distance. The sequence is then repeated.

Manoharan, M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Crack initiation and growth toughness of an aluminum metal-matrix composite

The effects of systematic changes in matrix microstructure on crack initiation and growth toughnesses were determined on an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy containing 0, 15, 20 percent by volume of SiC particulates. Materials were heat treated to underaged (UA) and overaged (OA) conditions of equivalent matrix microhardness and flow stress. Although both the fracture initiation and growth toughnesses, as measured by JIc and tearing modulus, were similar for the unreinforced materials in the UA and OA conditions, significant effects of microstructure on both JIc and tearing modulus were observed in the composites. SEM and TEM observations of fracture paths in the two conditions are utilized to rationalize these observations in light of existing theories of ductile fracture propagation.

Manoharan, M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

In-situ deformation studies of an aluminum metal-matrix composite in a scanning electron microscope

Tensile specimens made of a metal-matrix composite (cast and extruded aluminum alloy-based matrix reinforced with Al2O3 particulate) were tested in situ in a scanning electron microscope equipped with a deformation stage, to directly monitor the crack propagation phenomenon. The in situ SEM observations revealed the presence of microcracks both ahead of and near the crack-tip region. The microcracks were primarily associated with cracks in the alumina particles. The results suggest that a region of intense deformation exists ahead of the crack and corresponds to the region of microcracking. As the crack progresses, a region of plastically deformed material and associated microcracks remains in the wake of the crack.

Manoharan, M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Effect of microstructure and notch root radius on fracture toughness of an aluminum metal matrix composite

Recent results on the effects of matrix aging condition (matrix temper) and notch root radius on the measured fracture toughness of a SiC particulate reinforced aluminum alloy are reviewed. Stress intensity factors at catastrophic fracture were obtained for both underaged and overaged composites reveal. The linear relation found between apparent fracture toughness and the square root of the notch root radius implies a linear dependence of the crack opening displacement on the notch root radius. The results suggest a strain controlled fracture process, and indicate that there are differences in the fracture micromechanisms of the two aging conditions.

Manoharan, M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Effects of aging condition on the fracture toughness of 2XXX and 7XXX series aluminum alloy composites

Results are presented on the effects of matrix aging condition (i.e., matrix temper) on the fracture toughness of 2XXX and 7XXX Al matrix alloys reinforced with SiC particulates, and the results are compared with the mechanical behavior. Fracture toughness testing was conducted on fatigue precracked bend specimens, and fracture surfaces were examined using SEM. Results revealed dramatic differences in the effect of matrix microstructure on the fracture properties of the two composite series. In the 7XXX material, the toughness values decreased from the underaged (UA) condition to the overaged (OA) condition by approximately 40 percent, while in the 2XXX series composite, the effect of matrix microstructure was marginal. In the 7XXX series composites, a transition in fracture mode from particle cracking (in UA) to matrix and linear-interface failure (in OA) was observed, while the 2XXX series composite failed predominantly by particle cracking.

Manoharan, M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Notch effects on room temperature tensile and bend properties of Ni3Al and Ni3Al+B

The notched mechanical properties of Ni3Al and Ni3Al+B prepared by powder metallurgy techniques have been determined in both tension and bending at room temperature. Tensile tests performed using double-notched specimens containing relatively blunt notches produced intergranular fracture in both Ni3Al and Ni3Al+B, with evidence of fracture initiating in an intergranular manner ahead of the blunt notch in both cases. Estimates of notched fracture toughness from bend tests and of local grain boundary fracture stress from the notched tensile tests suggest an increase in these values with boron addition.

Khadkikar, P. S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Strength and toughness of composite materials based on nickel aluminide matrices

Several nickel aluminide matrix composites were prepared using vacuum hot pressing techniques. The matrix compositions, based on Ni3Al, Ni3Al+B, and NiAl, were reinforced with 10 vol pct TiB2 particles. Both smooth- and notched-bend tests were conducted at room temperature on the monolithic as well as the reinforced materials in order to determine the effects of TiB2 reinforcement on both the smooth-bend and notched-bend properties. TiB2 additions were shown to improve the smooth-bend strengths regardless of the matrix composition, while notched-bend tests, conducted to provide estimates of fracture toughness, revealed somewhat lower values for the composites in comparison to the monolithic materials. Fractographic analyses and in situ fracture observations of the composites revealed that preferential fracture in regions of clustered TiB2 particles may significantly affect the measured toughnesses.

Rigney, J. D.↗