Abstract
A fractal analysis on fracture surface of aluminium-particulate SiC composites was attempted. As the volume fraction of SiC in composites increases, the fractal dimension tends to increase. However, no correlation between the fractal dimension and the fracture toughness in terms of critical energy release rate was observed. Since the fractal dimension represents the roughness of fracture surface, the fracture toughness would be a function of not only fracture surface roughness but also additional parameters. Thus the applicability of fractal analysis to the estimation of fracture toughness must depend on the proper choice and interpretation of additioal paramerters. In this paper, the size of characteristic strctural unit for fracture was considered as an additional parameter. As a result, the size appeared to be a function of only volume fraction of SiC. Finally, a master curve for fracture toughness of aluminium-particulate SiC composites was proposed as a function of fractal dimension and volume fraction of SiC.