Author(s)

N. Lippmann, S. Schmauder & P. Gumbsch

Abstract

The failure mechanisms in AlSi-cast alloys with various microstructures of the Si-eutectic are studied by in-situ tensile tests in a scanning electron mi- croscope. On the basis of these observations the failure criteria and critical failure stresses are determined. Crack initiation and subsequent crack prop- agation is simulated with the Finite Elemente Method using the recently- introduced method of multiphase elements and an automatic element eli- mination technique. As a result of the experimentally observed failure mechanisms a two- criteria model was applied which enables the simulation of crack initiation in the Si-particles by a normal stress criterion as well as subcritical crack growth in the matrix using Rice & Tracey's local damage

Keywords