Effect of strain rate on the compressive mechanical behavior of a continuous alumina fiber reinforced ZE41A magnesium alloy based composite

The compressive mechanical response of an FP™ continuous fiber (35 vol.%) Mg composite has been determined in the transverse and longitudinal directions at quasi-static and high strain rates. It was found that the composite in the transverse direction exhibited strain rate sensitivity of the flow stress and maximum stress within the studied strain-rate range of 1.3 × 10−4 to 1550 s−1. The failure strain in this direction, however, decreased with increasing strain rate. Microscopic observations on the failed samples have shown that the composite failed by shear banding along the diagonal axis, 45° to the loading axis. Twinning was observed in the deformed cross-sections of the samples particularly in and near the shear band region. The strain rate sensitivity of the fracture stress of the composite in transverse direction is attributed to the matrix strain rate sensitivity. In the longitudinal direction, the composite failed by kink formation at quasi-static strain rates, while kinking and splitting were observed at the high strain rates. The maximum stress in the longitudinal direction was, however, found to be strain rate insensitive within the strain rate regime of 1.3 × 10−4 to 500 s−1. In this direction, similar to transverse direction, twinning was observed in the highly deformed kink region. Several different reasons are proposed for the strain rate insensitive compressive strength in this direction.