Residual Stress Measurements on a Metal Matrix Composite Using the Contour Method with Brittle Fracture

Abstract

In this work we evaluate the application of the contour method to fatigue and fracture surfaces. Residual stress measurements were made on quenched and aged AA2124-SiC p composite using neutron diffraction, the contour method with wire EDM, and the contour method on a fatigue crack surface including brittle failure. The contour method successfully measured residual stresses from a wire electro-discharge cut surface, but the fracture method results suggest that residual stress information is lost due to plasticity during fatigue crack growth.