Residual and thermal strain in AX41 magnesium alloy reinforced with short Saffil fibres

Abstract Thermal expansion characteristics of AX41 magnesium alloy reinforced by 12 vol.% of short Saffil fibers were investigated at the temperature range of 25–380 °C. Specimens cut at various angles involving random planar distribution of fibers were used for the experiments. From the thermal expansion characteristics, residual and thermal strains and their dependence on the orientation were evaluated. Tensile thermal strains were observed from 0° to 45° angles between the axis sample and the preferential plane of the fiber distribution. For greater angles, i.e., 45–90°, the compression thermal strains were observed. The thermal stresses and the thermal strain connected with them head towards stress-free state by elastic–plastic mechanism. The temperature of the elastic–plastic transition does not depend on the angle between sample axis and the short fiber direction.