Sensitivity analysis of mechanical properties and ductile/brittle behaviors in aluminum‐silicon alloy to loading rate and nano‐particles, considering interaction effects

Abstract

Abstract Aluminum‐silicon alloys have been widely used in automotive industries. To know mechanical properties of such materials is essential for engineers to have a superior design for components. Therefore, in this article, the sensitivity analysis of mechanical and fracture features in the aluminum alloy has been performed to find the effect of the loading rate and nano‐particles. For this objective, tensile tests were performed on casting standard specimens. Then, obtained experimental data were analyzed by the Minitab software, using the factorial method. In addition, the interaction between the effect of the loading rate and the addition of nano‐particles, on mechanical properties and ductile/brittle behaviors, was also investigated. Obtained results indicated that the yield stress, the elastic modulus and the elongation were sensitive to the interaction of both factors (the multiply of the nano‐particle addition and the loading rate). Besides, the fracture surface illustrated that by increasing the loading rate and the addition of nano‐particles, the brittleness of the material increased.

Keywords

• aluminum alloy
• ductile/brittle behaviors
• loading rate
• mechanical properties
• nano‐particles
• sensitivity analysis