FINITE ELEMENT EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF CAVITY NUCLEATION IN AN AL-SI-GE ALLOY/

Cavity nucleation in a recently developed A1-0.55Si-2.02 Ge (wt%) allo y was studied by measuring the volume fraction of voids as a function of strain and precipitate diameter using a pycnometer. The finite elem ent method was employed in order to calculate stress distributions aro und the SiGe precipitates for different precipitate diameters using bo th elasticity and plasticity models. This analysis allows a quantitati ve comparison between the experimental data and the prediction of a st ress criterion for cavity nucleation based on the model developed by B rown and Stobbs. Copyright (C) 1996 Acta Metallurgica Inc.