Study on characteristics of fatigue strength of ARALL composite in constructive elements

Abstract

Due to Fatigue Testing fatigue life of specimens made of various materials and with various flange types was estimated. Specimens with dish-shaped and ring-shape flanges were tested. Specimens were made of aluminum alloy D16chATV sheets (thickness 1.2 mm) and of ARALL with a thickness of 1.2 mm based on aluminum layers of 0.5 mm thickness. Specimens were tested under 3 levels of cyclic stress: σmax=120, 100, 80 MPa with minimum stress of σmin=20 MPa. Some of ARALL specimens were tested only under σmax=100 MPa stress level. Under each stress level were tested 5 – 6 specimens. According to the results of all specimen tests the authors plotted plotted fatigue curves. Using the Finite Element Method the stress state of specimens during cyclic stress tests was analyzed. Calculations of fatigue life of specimens were made on the basis of the offered method. Full-element and numerical experiments revealed that fatigue resistance of monolithic alloy specimens with dish-shaped flange under all stress levels is higher than of specimens with a ring-shaped flange. ARALL specimens with dish-shaped and ring-shaped flanges both according to test results have a higher fatigue resistance than monolithic alloy specimens.