Analytical and Numerical Modelling of Failure in Aluminum Matrix Composite for Connecting Rod Application
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Date
2022-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The failures in composites are due to failure in their matrix, re-enforcement parts, or both. Failure in the composite structure could cause pin failure, stress failure, fatigue failure, hydro lock as well as overheating of the connecting rod. Thus, the implementation of analysis and predicting tools is preferred to prevent failures. The objective of this thesis work is to predict and analyze the failure possibilities in automobile connecting rods. The connecting rods are made of an aluminum matrix with silicon carbide reinforcements which were modeled by varying the volume fraction of re-enforcements in the form of laminates and particulates. The laminate reinforced aluminum matrix composites were modeled by varying laminate orientation while the particulate reinforced ones were modeled by varying the composite aspect ratio. The connecting rod models passed through available failure criteria like Tsai-Hill or Tsai-Wu and Von-Mises stress values. Both models were analyzed using ABAQUS software. Additionally, the particulate reinforced composites were analyzed using representative volume element /RVE/ on DIGIMAT software. The results showed that the material properties of AA6061-SiC composites increased with an increasing reinforcement volume fraction by the reduction in thickness of the bulky connecting rod. Failure in the connecting rod was predicted to occur in stress-concentrated areas located at corners where the SiC reinforcements are found, as well as, areas of load application and the middle cross-section of the connecting rod. The particulate reinforced models were preferred than the laminate reinforced ones because they sustained higher load gradients prone to less failure. The aluminum MMC’S with a five percent SiC reinforcement volume fraction in particulate form, as well as, twenty percent volume fraction SiC in laminate form with 0o or 90o orientation were found suitable for automobile connecting rod application based on the parameters provided by the author.
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Keywords
Connecting Rod, Failure Prediction, Laminate, Particulate, Simulation, Criterions, Laminate Orientation, Aspect Ratio, Volume Fraction