Crack growth energetics to predict fatigue failures in particle-reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMC)

The crack growth energetics is applied to develop fatigue failure prediction model for particle-reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs). The fatigue crack growth (FCG) rates are evaluated by balancing the accumulated fatigue strain energy at the fatigue damage zone to the dissipated energy developed during FCG in the fatigue damage zone. Then, microstructural parameters are incorporated into the model using modified shear lag theory and enhanced dislocation density. The analytical closed form solutions accurately fitted the experimental data on FCG life predictions for different PRMMC. Finally, sensitivity analysis of present model provides significant effect of microstructural parameters on the FCG life.