MECHANICAL TESTING

Metal Matrix Composite Testing

Since 1990, TRL has been involved in the development of and the testing of Metal Matrix Composites. In support of this work, Touchstone personnel have been active in the development of MMC testing methods for Military Handbook 17.

Among the hundreds of test methods Touchstone has used to characterized metal matrix composites, TRL has performed virtually all the tests under the Consortium Testing Specification (CTS) for the NASP (National AeroSpace Plane) Materials & Structures Augmentation Program. Publication of these test methods is restricted so they are not described here. The following is a list of the NASP standard tests with which Touchstone has experience.

• Creep:
  • Creep Test of Metal Matrix Composites
• Compression:
  • Compression Test of Metal Matrix Composite Coupon: Unidirectional Coupon
  • Compression Test of Metal Matrix Composite Coupon: Crossply Coupon
  • Compression Bearing Test of Metal Matrix Composite Coupon
  • Filled Hole Compression Test of Metal Matrix Composites Coupon
• Fatigue:
  • Unloaded Hole Fatigue of Metal Matrix Composites
  • Bearing Fatigue Test of Metal Matrix Composites
  • Fatigue Crack Growth in Metal Matrix Composites
  • Unnotched Tension Fatigue of Metal Matrix Composites
• Fracture Toughness:
  • Monotonic Crack Growth (Fracture Toughness) in Metal Matrix Composites
• Tensile Testing:
  • Tensile Test of Metal Matrix Composite: 0, 90, or Balanced 0/90 Coupon
  • Tensile Test of Metal Matrix Composite: Crossplied Coupon
  • Tensile Test of +/-45 Metal Matrix Composite Coupon
  • Tensile Bearing Test of Metal Matrix Composites Coupon
  • Filled Hole Tensile Test of Metal Matrix Composites Coupon
• Physical Testing:
  • Density Determination for Metal Matrix Composites
  • Coefficient of Thermal Expansion for Metal Matrix Composites
  • Thermal Conductivity & Specific Heat of Metal Matrix Composites
  • Tensile Testing of Metal Matrix Composites ASTM D 3552

Touchstone is also experienced with ASTM D 3552, "The Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites." This method determines the tensile properties of metal-matrix composites reinforced by continuous and discontinuous high modulus fibers. This method applies to specimens tested in a direction of reinforcement or perpendicular to the direction of reinforcement. In this method, a tensile specimen is mounted in the grips of a test machine and a load is applied at approximately constant crosshead rate until specimen failure occurs. The load-deformation or load-strain curve is plotted to determine elastic moduli and other tensile properties (proportional limit, fracture strain, etc.), as well as the ultimate tensile strength.

In addition to these composite characterization tests, Touchstone has developed quite a number of composite constituent tests such as a Fiber Push-Out SEM which measures the bond strength between the fiber and matrix within a composite and a wide variety of fiber tensile tests.

One of our fiber tests methods is capable of measuring the tensile strength of a single fiber while measuring strain with a laser extensometer at elevated temperatures to over 1000 degrees Celsius.

For whatever your metal matrix composite needs, please call or email us.

Index of Mechanical Testing