Issue 75

E. Ashoka et alii, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 75 (2026) 265-280; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.75.19

B/W

Composite

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

% erro r

% erro r 10.3

% erro r

% erro r 10.7

% erro r

% erro r 10.3

Al6061+3wt%Si C+

An sys

Ansy s

Ansy s

Ansy s

Ex p

Ansy s

Ansy s

Exp

Exp

Exp

Exp

Exp

3wt%Ceno

21.45

20.0

6.4

16.68

14.97

14.54

13.2

9.2

14.11

12.6

14.2

12.8

9.9

14.16

12.7

6wt%Ceno

22.64

20.5

9.5

17.48

15.8

9.6

15.05

13.9

7.6

14.54

14.2

2.3

14.5

13.5

6.9

14.57

13.5

7.3

9wt%Ceno 3.4 Table 3: Comparison of the Al6061-SiC-Cenosphere composites' experimental and computational results for a/W = 0.5 . Tab. 3 compares the experimental and ANSYS-simulated fracture toughness of Al6061–SiC–Cenosphere composites at various B/W ratios. The simulated results closely match the experimental data, with percentage errors generally below 10%. The minor deviations can be attributed to idealized boundary conditions and mesh discretization in the FE model. Overall, the strong correlation between experimental and numerical results validates the accuracy of the finite element simulation approach. Fractography The failure mechanism between the matrix (ductile fracture) and particle (brittle fracture, which manifested in bright surfaces) is revealed by the fracture surfaces of the hybrid reinforced composites in Fig. 13. All of the compositions failed because of particle debonding, according to the graphs. However, microcracks have formed in the matrix of the 3wt% Cenosphere composite, and the crack propagation rate is higher since there are fewer particles present. Consequently, it has been noted that fracture toughness has decreased. Fig. 13(a) depicts the purely ductile fracture for the composite with reduced number of reinforced (6wt %) particles having tiny sized particles. In the aluminium matrix, the SiC and cenosphere particles must function as a barrier to the crack's propagation (Fig. 13(b)). They also cause the fracture route to diverge, allowing the crack to spread around the reinforcing particles and lowering the induced stresses, as seen in Fig. 13(c). The limitation value for fracture propagation is subsequently raised by this barrier caused by SiC and cenosphere particles. 21.93 20.3 7.4 17.32 16.1 7.0 14.6 13.6 6.8 14.3 13.1 8.4 14.1 12.76 9.5 13.97 13.5

Figure 13: Fractography images of for Al6061+3wt% SiC composites (a) 3wt% (b) 6wt% (c) 9wt% Cenosphere.

277