Dynamic Behaviour of Cast A356/Al₂O₃ Aluminum Metal Matrix Nanocomposites

E. Y. El-Kady, T. S. Mahmoud, A. A. El-Betar, M. Abdel-Aziz

Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, KSA.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2012.311118                

Abstract

The present work includes the study of the dynamic properties of the nanocomposites specimens. The dynamic properties of A356/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites were investigated through different fabrication conditions. The A356/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites specimens were fabricated using a combination between the rheocasting and squeeze casting routes. The composites were reinforced with Al₂O₃ particulates of 60 and 200 nm and different volume fractions up to 5 vol.%. The dynamic properties of the A356/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites were investigated through measuring the dynamic properties of specimens. Free vibration method is used to measure frequency response (f_n ), and damping factor (ξ). The viscoelastic properties such as loss factor η, storage modulus (E'), and loss modulus (E") were obtained. The results concluded that, the dynamic properties of nanocomposites were improved by increasing the volume fractions of nanoparticulates and decreasing the nanoparticulates size. The results indicated also that, the damping factor, and the related parameters (η, E' and E") was strongly affected by increasing both volume fraction and the particulates.

Keywords

Metal Matrix Nanocomposites; Aluminum Alloys; Dynamic Properties; Damping Factor; Vibration;Frequency; Stiffness; Loss Factor; Storage Modulus

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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