Fatigue Testing Welded Joints for P/M Aluminum-Matrix Composites

To meet their need for high stiffness, many bicycles currently rely on aluminum-matrix composites. The highest strength and highest stiffness form of these materials, 6092/B4C/15p, is produced by powder metallurgy techniques. The bicycles are tungsten inert-gas welded and fully heat treated after welding. A test technique has been developed to assess the static and fatigue properties of welded joints. This test technique has revealed the increased stiffness and strength of a 6092/B4C/15p-T6P composite tube joint as compared with a 6061-T6 aluminum one. This test technique is currently being used to identify fatigue properties for both tube joints.