Fibre breakage in short fibre reinforced metal matrix composites during creep and constant strain rate compression testing

The evolution of fibre breakage during compressive deformation of AlZn11Mg0.2 (wt.%) reinforced with “Saffil” short fibres was characterised. Fibre damage is described in terms of the changes in the distribution of fibre lengths as a function of accumulated strain. Cylindrical specimens with different fibre orientations were deformed under constant compressive load at 573 K and constant strain rate at 573 K and room temperature. No significant difference in the damage evolution for specimens tested under different conditions was observed. A final mean fibre length near 40 μm was observed in all cases.