Alan Wolfenden

Bio: Alan Wolfenden is an academic researcher from Texas A&M University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Young's modulus & Elastic modulus. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 56 publications receiving 442 citations.

Mechanical damping and dynamic modulus measurements in alumina and tungsten fibre-reinforced aluminium composites

Abstract: Simultaneous measurements of mechanical damping, or internal friction (Q −1 ), and dynamic Young's modulus (E) were made near 80 kHz and at strain amplitudes (e) in the range 10−8 to 10−4 on small specimens of continuous or chopped fibre-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs): 6061 aluminium reinforced with alumina (Al/Al2O3) and 6061 aluminium reinforced with tungsten (Al/W). Baseline experiments were also done on 99.999% aluminium (pure Al). The strain amplitude dependence of damping and the temperature dependence of dynamic modulus were of particular interest in this study. The temperature (T) dependence of the modulus from room temperature up to 475° C was determined for the Al/Al2O3 and pure Al specimens and a highly linear decrease in modulus with increasing temperature was observed. The rate of modulus loss (dE/dT ≈ −80 M Pa° C−1 ) was the same for both materials and the reduction in modulus of the Al/Al2O3 was attributed to the reduction in modulus of the alu minium matrix, not the alumina fibres. The size, type, and amount of fibre reinforcement were found to have a significant effect on the strain amplitude dependence of the damping in both MMCs. Unreinforced aluminium exhibited classical dislocation damping trends with a region of strain amplitude independent damping at low strains (less than 10−5) followed by a non linear, strain amplitude dependent region at higher strains. The addition of alumina fibres (chopped or continuous), while increasing stiffness, resulted in a significant reduction in damping capacity for the MMC relative to that for aluminium and near complete suppression of the amplitude dependent response. The damping levels increased as the volume fraction of fibre, and therefore, the amount of fibre/matrix (FM) interface decreased, indicating that the matrix, not factors such as increased dislocation densities at the FM interface, was the dominant influence on the damping. Analysis of the Al/Al2O3 results by Granato-Lucke (GL) theory indicated that dislocation densities were increased relative to those in aluminium, but the dis locations were well pinned and unable to increase damping levels effectively. Analysis of the Al/W results by GL theory also revealed high dislocation densities, but, unlike the Al/Al2O3 specimens, the Al/W specimens (continuous fibres) exhibited strong amplitude dependent damping (starting near strain levels of 2 × 10−6) with damping levels approximately twice those of pure aluminium. Trends showed increased damping with increased fibre diameter, not with increased FM interface area. There was some evidence that it was the tungsten fibre itself that dominated the damping behaviour in Al/W composites, not the aluminium matrix or the FM interface.

Modulus measurements in ordered Co-Al, Fe-Al, and Ni-Al alloys

Abstract: The composition and/or temperature dependence of the dynamic Young's modulus for the ordered B2 Co-Al, Fe-Al, and Ni-Al aluminides has been investigated using the piezoelectric ultrasonic composite oscillator technique (PUCOT). The modulus has been measured in the composition interval 48.49 to 52.58 at. pct Co, 50.87 to 60.2 at. pct Fe, and 49.22 to 55.95 at. pct Ni for Co-Al, Fe-Al, and Ni-Al, respectively. The measured values for Co-Al are in the temperature interval 300 to 1300 K, while those for the other systems are for ambient temperature only. The data points show that Co-Al is stiffer than Fe-Al, which is stiffer than Ni-Al. The data points for Fe-Al and Ni-Al are slightly higher than those reported in the literature.

Measurement and analysis of elastic and anelastic properties of alumina and silicon carbide

Abstract: Measurements of dynamic Young's modulus, E, and damping as a function of temperature, T, were made for alumina and silicon carbide. The Young's modulus data were compared with some from the literature, and analysed in terms of a theoretical framework relating the Debye temperature, θD, with the elastic constants. For both materials this analysis yielded a ratio T0/θD which was near 0.4, where T0 is an empirical fitting constant for the plot of (E(0)−E)/T versus 1/T (E(0) is the value of E at 0 K). The analysis of the damping data in terms of an Arrhenius type dependence led to effective activation energies near kT, where k is Boltzmann's constant.

Physical and mechanical properties of the B2 compound NiAl

Abstract: Considerable work has been performed on NiAl over the last three decades, with an extremely rapid growth in research on this intermetallic occurring in the last few years due to recent interest in this material for electronic and high temperature structural applications. However, many physical properties and the controlling fracture and deformation mechanisms over certain temperature regimes are still in question. Part of this problem lies in the incomplete characterization of many of the alloys previously investigated. Fragmentary data on processing conditions, chemistry, microstructure and the apparent difficulty in accurately measuring composition has made direct comparison between individual studies sometimes tenuous. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize all available mechanical and pertinent physical properties on NiAl, stressing the most recent investigations, in an attempt to understand the behavior of NiAl and its alloys over a broad temperature range.

A review of recent developments in Fe3Al-based alloys

Abstract: Fe3Al-based iron aluminides have been of interest for many years because of their excellent oxidation and sulfidation resistance. However, limited room temperature ductility (<5%) and a sharp drop in strength above 600 °C have limited their consideration for use as structural materials. Recent improvements in tensile properties, especially improvements in ductility produced through control of composition and microstructure, and advances in the understanding of environmental embrittlement in intermetallics, including iron aluminides, have resulted in renewed interest in this system for structural applications. The purpose of this paper is to summarize recent developments concerning Fe3Al-based aluminides, including alloy development efforts and environmental embrittlement studies. This report will concentrate on literature published since about 1980, and will review studies of fabrication, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance that have been conducted since that time.

Group III nitride and SiC based MEMS and NEMS: materials properties, technology and applications

Abstract: With the increasing requirements for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) regarding stability, miniaturization and integration, novel materials such as wide band gap semiconductors are attracting more attention. Polycrystalline SiC has first been implemented into Si micromachining techniques, mainly as etch stop and protective layers. However, the outstanding properties of wide band gap semiconductors offer many more possibilities for the implementation of new functionalities. Now, a variety of technologies for SiC and group III nitrides exist to fabricate fully wide band gap semiconductor based MEMS. In this paper we first review the basic technology (deposition and etching) for group III nitrides and SiC with a special focus on the fabrication of three-dimensional microstructures relevant for MEMS. The basic operation principle for MEMS with wide band gap semiconductors is described. Finally, the first applications of SiC based MEMS are demonstrated, and innovative MEMS and NEMS devices are reviewed.