• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2014

The mechanical properties of low-pressure die cast (LPDC) A356-T6 automotive road wheels are evaluated and correlated with their corresponding microstructures. In this study, two types of alloy wheels processed using different LPDC gating system are investigated. The yield stress, tensile stress, and elongation values tested at room temperature are correlated with the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) with respect to the gating system, and are also compared with similar studies. The SDAS and precipitates are examined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The phase information is also investigated using X-ray diffraction. Charpy impact tests are also performed from $-100^{\circ}C$ to $200^{\circ}C$, and the fracture surfaces are examined using SEM. The impact energy is demonstrated to increase with increasing temperatures without exhibiting specific transition behaviors as in other nonferrous alloys. The fracture toughness is also evaluated using three point bend test with single-edged bend specimens. The obtained fracture toughness values are in good agreement with those in similar studies.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2009

The effect of porosity on the high-cycle fatigue properties of Al-Si-Mg casting aluminum alloys was investigated in this study. Microstructure examination, tensile and high-cycle fatigue test were conducted on both Al-Si-Mg casted (F) and heat-treated (T6) conditions. Porosity characteristics on the fracture surfaces of fatigue-tested samples were examined using SEM and image analysis. The microstructure observation results showed that eutectic Si particles were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix of the Al-Si-Mg casting alloys, but there were porosities formed as cast defects. The high-cycle fatigue results indicated that the fatigue strength of the 356-T6 alloy was higher than that of the 356-F alloys because of the significant reduction in volume fraction of pores by heat treatment. The SEM fractography results showed that porosity affected detrimental effect on the fatigue life: 80% of all tested samples fractured as a result of porosity which acted as the main crack initiation site. It was found that fatigue life decreased as the size of the surface pore increased. A comparison was made between surface pore and inner pore for its effect on the fatigue behavior. The results showed that the fatigue strength with the inner pores was higher than that of the surface pore.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.350-352
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• 2009

The effect of porosity on the high-cycle fatigue properties of Al-Si-Mg casting aluminum alloys was investigated in this study. Microstructure examination, tensile and high-cycle fatigue test were conducted on both Al-Si-Mg casted (F) and heat-treated (T6) conditions. Porosity characteristics on the fracture surfaces of fatigue-tested samples were examined using SEM and image analysis. The microstructure observation results showed that eutectic Si particles were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix of the Al-Si-Mg casting alloys, but there were porosities formed as cast defects. The high-cycle fatigue results indicated that the fatigue strength of the 356-T6 alloy was higher than that of the 356-F alloys because of the significant reduction in volume fraction of pores by heat treatment. The SEM fractography results showed that porosity affected detrimental effect on the fatigue life: 80% of all tested samples fractured as a result of porosity which acted as the main crack initiation site. It was found that fatigue life decreased as the size of the surface pore increased. A comparison was made between surface pore and inner pore fur its effect on the fatigue behavior. The results showed that the fatigue strength with the inner pores was higher than that of the surface pore.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2010

Recently, automotive industry is attempting to replace steels for automotive parts with light-weight alloys such as aluminum alloy, because of the growing environmental regulations governing exhaust gas and the engine effectiveness of a vehicle. The low cycle fatigue (LCF) and high cycle fatigue (HCF) properties as well as the microstructure and tensile property were investigated on the low pressure cast A356 aluminum alloy wheel, which was followed by T6 heat treatment. The cast microstructure of the alloy influenced significantly on the low cycle and high cycle fatigue behaviors. The rim part of cast aluminum alloy wheel showed higher low cycle and high cycle fatigue strength compared with the spoke part, which should be caused by higher cooling rate of rim part. The spoke part of the wheel showed coarser dendrite arm spacing (DAS) and wide eutectic zone in the microstructure, which resulted in the partial brittle fracture and lower fatigue life time.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.95-102
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• 2018

The dependence of the tensile properties on variations in the porosity of A356 aluminium alloys was investigated in terms of the quality index of the tensile properties based upon the ultimate tensile strength and elongation as well as the variation of the strength coefficient and strain-hardening exponent with regard to a T6 treatment. The test specimens were prepared by low-pressure die-casting and a subsequent T6 treatment, and the experimental results of a tensile test carried out at room temperature were compared to the theoretical description using a modified constitutive model. The nominal value of the quality index of A356 alloys increases gradually with a lapse of the ageing time upon a T6 treatment, despite the fact that this value is temporarily decreased during the initial stage of ageing from a solutionised condition. Additionally, the quality index depends practically upon the porosity variation with a power law relationship without regard to whether in solutionised or artificial aged conditions. The theoretical description indicates that the strength coefficient directly determines the nominal level of the quality index. Moreover, the overall dependence of the quality index on the porosity variation is remarkably weakened with an increase in the tensile strain, whereas the quality index depends sensitively upon the porosity variation with a low value of the strain-hardening exponent.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.231-240
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• 2012

In present study, the effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the gravity cast superchargers housing using A356 alloy were investigated. In order to identify the characteristics of superchagers housing casting with heat treatment, Vickers hardness test, electrical conductivity test, opical and scanning electron microscopy were performed. And also, to investigate their mechanical properties, the T6 treated superchagers housing casting in optimum heat treatment condition were carried out tensile test using UTM (Universal Testing Machine).

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.61-65
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• 2020

Rheo-diecasting with stirring has been used in many material industries. As the 4th Industrial Revolution approaches the world, eco-friendly high-strength and light-weight materials become more important. Casting methods have been studied and used for aluminum-alloy automobile parts. This study carried out the effect analysis of the micro-structure and mechanical properties, such as yield/ultimate tensile strength, elongation, and hardness, of A356 using the 6-pole EMS (electro-magnetic stirring) casting process with a high electromagnetic force. As a result, the hardness and elongation of the A356 after T6 heat-treatment show a significant improvement, respectively, by 20% and 50%.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.294-301
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• 2023

The effects of Cu on feeding and macro-porosity characteristics were investigated in hypo- (A356 and 319) and hypereutectic (391) aluminum-silicon alloys. T-section and Tatur tests showed that the feeding and macro-porosity characteristics were significantly different between the hypo- and hypereutectic alloys. The hole and the pipe in the T-section and the Tatur casting in hypereutectic alloy showed a rough and irregular shape due to the faceted growth of the primary silicon, while the results of the hypoeutectic alloys exhibited a rather smooth surface. However, the addition of Cu did not strongly affect the macro-feeding behavior. It is known that copper segregates and interferes the feeding process in the last stage of solidification, possibly leading to form more amount of micro shrinkage porosity by the addition of Cu. The macro porosity formation mechanism and feeding properties were discussed upon T-section and Tatur tests together with an alloying addition.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.493-498
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• 2002

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new solid-state joining process which can homogenize the heterogeneous microstructure by intensely plastic deformation arising from the rotation of the welding tool. The present study applied the FSW to an A356 aluminum (AI) alloy with the as-cast heterogeneous microstructure in the T6 temper condition, and examined an effect of microstructure on mechanical properties in the weld. The base material consisted of Al matrix with a high density of strengthening precipitates, large eutectic silicon and a lot of porosities. The FSW led to fragment of the eutectic silicon, extinction of the porosities and dissolution of the strengthening precipitates in the Al alloy. The dissolution of strengthening precipitates reduced the hardness of the weld around the weld center and the transverse ultimate tensile strength of the weld. Longitudinal tensile specimen containing only the stir zone showed the roughly same strength as the base material and a much larger elongation. Moreover, Charpy impact tests indicated that the stir zone had remarkably the higher absorbed energy than the base material. The higher mechanical properties of the stir zone were attributed to a homogenization of the as-cast heterogeneous microstructure by FSW.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.81-88
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• 2012

Turbopump is a key component in liquid rocket engines, and reducing weight while maintaining structural safety is one of the major concerns of turbopump designers. To reduce the weight aluminium alloy castings instead of steel casings are introduced. The casting process is especially useful for enhancement of productivity and for reduction of product costs. But, since castings are used in space vehicle engines, reliability cannot be compromised. Therefore, proper design, production process and thorough investigation should be performed to ensure structural integrity. In this study inlet casings for a fuel pump were casted with A356.0-T6 alloy and using one of them a burst test was conducted to ensure structural integrity. Structural analysis is performed for simulation, and with multiple strain gages strains are measured and compared with predictions.