Mechanical property and fracture characteristics of carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites prepared by friction stir welding
Yongfeng Lu, Quanlin Liu, Y.D. Liu, Y.D. Liu, Rena C. Yu, H.X. Chen, Yuxuan Chen, Y.J. Liu, Y.J. Liu
Abstract
In this study, the mechanical performance and fracture characteristics of carbon fiber (Cf) reinforced aluminum composites (CF@Al) manufactured through friction stir welding was investigated by in-situ tensile test coupling scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and digital image correlation, and the fracture behavior and microstructural evolution under tensile loading was elucidated. The results show a 16 % improvement in tensile strength and a significant work hardening effect in the CF@Al composites compared to pure aluminum, while maintaining good ductility. The carbon fibers were found to be the primary load-bearing sites, with fracture mechanisms involving fiber breakage and fiber pull-out. The outcomes enhance our understanding of the structural behavior of CF@Al composites under tensile stress.