In Situ Measurement of the Young’s Modulus of an Embedded Inclusion by Acoustic Microscopy

Abstract

Alumina-silicate inclusions (shot) have been found to adversely affect the mechanical properties of a short alumina-silicate fiber reinforced aluminum alloy (A356). To better understand the differences between the responses of the shot and fibers to applied loads, the Young’s modulus of the shot is measured and compared to that of the fibers. The Rayleigh wave speed in the shot particle (cross-sectional area of 200 μm × 150 μm), measured in situ to be 4041 m/s using a scanning acoustic microscope, was used to calculate the Young’s modulus of the shot particle (132 GPa). The accuracy of the technique and the experimental arrangement used was verified to be better than four percent by independent measurements of the Rayleigh wave speeds in the aluminum alloy matrix and an embedded sapphire fiber. The fiber modulus was estimated to be 225 GPa based on a comparison of previously measured composite modulus with micromechanical predictions. Thus, shot was found to have a Young’s modulus 40 percent lower than that of the fibers. The applicability of the V(z) technique has been demonstrated for measuring the elastic properties over a microscopic area, even when the target material is an embedded inclusion.