Design and testing of a simple structural component for space applications

The paper presents the designing, technology, and characterising mechanical and damping properties of two types of structural components that might be useful in space applications. The components (struts) were produced by the gas pressure infiltration of molten Mg into a preform of continuous carbon fibres. For comparison, also a non-reinforced component from pure Mg was prepared. Vibroacoustic tests showed that the samples reinforced with carbon fibres had better damping – approximately two times higher loss factor (η = 0.0018 and η = 0.0021) than the cast Mg component (η = 0.0008). The bending tests confirmed the results obtained by vibroacoustic testing and revealed that the stiffness of the reinforced structural component was approximately six times higher than that of the unreinforced Mg material. K e y w o r d s: metal matrix composites, magnesium matrix, carbon fibre, gas pressure infiltration, space application