Effects of particle plasticity characteristics on local interface stress in particle reinforced composite during uniaxial tension

For elastoplastic particle reinforced metal matrix composites, failure may originate from interface debonding between the particles and the matrix, both elastoplastic and matrix fracture near the interface. To calculate the stress and strain distribution in these regions, a single reinforcing particle axisymmetric unit cell model is used in this article. The nodes at the interface of the particle and the matrix are tied. The development of interfacial decohesion is not modelled. Finite element modelling is used, to reveal the effects of particle strain hardening rate, yield stress and elastic modulus on the interfacial traction vector (or stress vector), interface deformation and the stress distribution within the unit cell, when the composite is under uniaxial tension. The results show that the stress distribution and the interface deformation are sensitive to the strain hardening rate and the yield stress of the particle. With increasing particle strain hardening rate and yield stress, the interfacial traction vector and internal stress distribution vary in larger ranges, the maximum interfacial traction vector and the maximum internal stress both increase, while the interface deformation decreases. In contrast, the particle elastic modulus has little effect on the interfacial traction vector, internal stress and interface deformation.     

A fast numerical method of introducing the strengthening effect of residual stress and strain to tensile behavior of metal matrix composites

Thermal residual stress and strain (TRSS) in particle reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs) are believed to cause strengthening effects,according to previous studies.Here,the representative volume element (RVE) based computational homogenization technique was used to study the tensile deformation of PRMMCs with different particle aspect ratios (AR).The influence of TRSS was assessed quantitatively via comparing simulations with or without the cooling process.It was found that the strengthening effect of TRSS was affected by the particle AR.With the average strengthening effect of TRSS,a fast method of introducing the strengthening effect of TRSS to the tensile behavior of PRMMCs was developed.The new method has reduced the computational cost by a factor 2.The effect of TRSS on continuous fiber-reinforced metal matrix composite was found to have a softening-effect during the entire tensile deformation process because of the pre-yield effect caused by the cooling process.     

A constitutive model of particulate-reinforced composites taking account of particle size effects and damage evolution

This paper deals with a constitutive model of particulate-reinforced composites which can describe the evolution of debonding damage, matrix plasticity and particle size effects on deformation and damage. An incremental damage model of particulate-reinforced composites based on the Mori–Tanaka’s mean field concept has been extended to consider the particle size effects by using the Nan–Clarke’s simple method. The particle size effect on deformation is realized by introducing dislocation plasticity for stress–strain relation of in situ matrix in composites, and the particle size effect on damage is described by a critical energy criterion for particle–matrix interfacial debonding. For composites containing particles of various sizes, the effects of particle size distribution is incorporated into the model. Influence of debonding damage, particle size and particle volume fraction on overall stress–strain response of composites is discussed based on numerical results.     

Heterogeneous and homogenized models for predicting the indentation response of particle reinforced metal matrix composites

In this study, three-dimensional heterogeneous and homogenized finite element models are used to predict the indentation response of particle reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs). The matrix is assumed to have elasto-plastic behavior whereas the particles (uniform in size and spherical in shape) are assumed to be harder than the matrix, and possess linear elastic behavior. The particles (25 % by volume) are randomly distributed in the metal matrix. Two modeling approaches are used. In the first approach, the PRMMC is fully replaced by an equivalent homogenous material, and its material properties are obtained through homogenization using representative volume element approach under periodic boundary conditions. In second approach, a small cubical volume under the indenter is modeled as heterogeneous material with randomly distributed particles, whereas the remaining domain is assigned equivalent material properties obtained through homogenization. The elastic material properties obtained through simulations are found within Hashin–Shtrikman bounds. A suitable size cubical volume consisting of heterogeneities under the indenter is established by considering different cubical volumes so as to capture the actual indentation response. The simulations are also carried out for different particle sizes to establish a suitable particle size. These simulations show that the second modeling approach yields harder indentation response as compared to first modeling approach due to the local particle concentration under the indenter.     

颗粒尺寸对颗粒增强型金属基复合材料动态特性的影响

利用有限元模型分析了颗粒增强型金属基复合材料 ( PMMCs ) Al/SiC的颗粒尺寸对复合材料在不同应变率下的动态特性的影响。采用有限元三维立方体单胞模型嵌入单个和多个球形增强颗粒,颗粒直径分别为16 μ m和7.5 μ m,多颗粒模型内部颗粒随机分布。基体材料假设为弹塑性,应变强化及应变率强化均符合指数规律。模拟结果表明:颗粒尺寸、颗粒体积含量及应变率对金属基复合材料的动态特性的影响是相互耦合的。颗粒体积含量一定时,颗粒尺寸越小,复合材料流动应力越高;颗粒含量越高,材料流动应力越高;应变率越高,材料流动应力越高。      

Understanding the influence of particle size on strain versus fatigue life,and fracture behavior of aluminum alloy composites produced by spray deposition

The strain versus fatigue life and fracture behavior of spray-formed Al–Si composites reinforced with SiC particles of two different sizes were studied under total strain amplitudes. Both composites exhibit short low-cycle fatigue (LCF) which follows a Coffin-Manson relationship, and display cyclic hardening at all strain amplitudes. The LCF endurance of the composite with large particles is higher than that of composite containing small particles in the high strain amplitudes, however, at low strains the difference in fatigue endurance between the two composites decreased. Moreover, the decrease in particle size results in a higher degree of hardening at low and middle strains, but reduces the magnitude of hardening at highest strain. Fractographic analysis reveals that particle/matrix debonding is the main mechanism of failure in composite with small particles, while fracture and debonding of SiC particle are predominant in the large particle reinforced composite.     

The effect of particle distribution on damage formation in particulate reinforced metal matrix composites deformed in compression

Image analysis results are reported on the generation of damage in particulate reinforced metal matrix composites during compressive deformation. The technique allows the automated collection of data on the incidence of particle fracture and void formation in the matrix as a function of important microstructural parameters such as local particle volume fraction and particle size. There is a strong relationship between damage and the local volume fraction of the reinforcement proving that damage formation is accentuated in regions of particle clustering. With the SiC reinforced materials examined, there was observed to be a change in dominance of damage mechanism from particle fracture at low local volume fractions to void formation in the matrix within strongly clustered regions. The results are compared with finite element (FE) modelling of the compressive deformation of clustered particles using a simple cluster of equi-spaced particles. The FE results suggest that plastic flow is generally inhibited in clustered regions. In certain highly clustered configurations shielding is such that flow does not occur in the heart of the cluster even at high levels of average plastic strain. The modelling suggests that the change in dominance of damage mechanism is related to the dramatic increase in tensile hydrostatic stresses in the matrix with higher levels of particle clustering.     

The dynamic properties of SiCp/Al composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering with powders prepared by mechanical alloying process

The dynamic compressive properties of SiC particle reinforced pure Al matrix composites, fabricated by spark plasma sintering technique with mixture powders prepared by mechanical alloying process, were tested in this paper. Two different average SiC particle sizes of 12 μm and 45 μm were adopted, and the compressive tests of these composites at strain rates ranging from 800/s to 5200/s were conducted by split Hopkinson pressure bar. The damage mechanism of the SiC_p/Al composites was analyzed through the microstructural observations and high-precision density measurements. Results show that the dynamic properties and damage accumulation of these composites are significantly affected by the particle distribution, size, particle cracking, particle/matrix interface debonding and adiabatic heat softening. The composites containing smaller SiC particles exhibit higher flow stress, lower strain rate sensitivity, and less damage at high strain rate deformation.     

新型颗粒增强金属玻璃复合材料的拉伸增韧机制

利用有限元方法探究了颗粒体积分数、颗粒的应变硬化指数、颗粒的间距以及网状结构对新型非晶合金复合材料即金属玻璃基复合材料（Metallic Glass Composites,MGCs）强度和韧性的影响。结果表明：随着颗粒应变硬化指数的增大,复合材料的强度和韧性都有很大提高,颗粒体积分数的增大、颗粒间距的变小和网状结构排布也将提高复合材料的韧性。这些都有利于设计出有较好韧性的复合材料。     

Damage accumulation and mechanical properties of particle-reinforced metal–matrix composites during hydrostatic extrusion

The effects of hydrostatic extrusion on particle cracking and on the subsequent tensile properties of some prototypical particle-reinforced metal–matrix composites are investigated. In most cases, tensile failure occurs through a plastic instability in accordance with the Considere criterion for necking. The corresponding failure strain is therefore dictated by the global flow and hardening characteristics of the composites, as influenced by the intrinsic flow properties of the matrix as well as the extent and rate of particle cracking. Such cracking leads to significant reductions in the hardening rate and thus causes a reduction in the failure strain relative to that of the neat matrix alloy. Extrusion prior to tensile testing has the effect of saturating the flow stress of the matrix and limiting the tensile ductility to low values, largely because of the very low hardening rate of the matrix. Particle cracking during extrusion causes a further reduction in ductility. The dominant role of the matrix hardening is demonstrated through re-tempering treatments of extruded billets prior to tensile testing. A micromechanical model of particle cracking is developed, taking into account the effects of both the hydrostatic and the deviatoric stress components in axisymmetric loadings. The model is used to rationalize the observed trends in damage accumulation with particle content, particle type, and loading configuration (tension vs. extrusion).     

A micromechanical model of influence of particle fracture and particle cluster on mechanical properties of metal matrix composites

A general analytical model for a composite with an isotropic matrix and two populations of spherical inclusions is proposed. The method is based on the second order moment of stress for evaluating the homogenised effective stress in the matrix and on the secant moduli concept for the plastic deformation. With Webull's statistical law for the strength of SiCp particles, the model can quantitatively predict the influence of particle fracture on the mechanical properties of PMMCs. Application of the proposed model to the particle cluster shows that the particle cluster has neglected influence on the strain and stress curves of the composite.     

Numerical study of the influence of particle-cracking to the damage of MMC by the incremental damage theory

Based on the incremental damage theory, the influences of particle-cracking damage and its residue strengthening capacity on the stress–strain response of particle reinforced (metal matrix composite) MMC under uniaxial tension are carefully investigated in this paper. Two kinds of models are adopted in the numerical calculation to predict the damage evolution of MMC, one is modeling the broken particles as voids and the other is considering the remaining load carrying capacity of the damaged particles. Special emphasis is placed on the detailed comparison between the results predicted by the two models under different parameters such as the aspect ratio, volume fraction of particle and the elastic–plasticity properties of matrix. The damage process of MMC and the development of stress in the particles are predicted by two models and carefully analyzed.     

Microstructure and strengthening mechanism of bimodal size particle reinforced magnesium matrix composite

One kind of (submicron + micron) bimodal size SiCp/AZ91 composite was fabricated by the stir casting technology. After hot deformation process, the influence of bimodal size particles on microstructures and mechanical properties of AZ91 matrix was investigated by comparing with monolithic A91 alloy, submicron SiCp/AZ91 and micron SiCp/AZ91 composites. The results show that micron particles can stimulate dynamic recrystallized nucleation, while submicron particles may pin grain boundaries during the hot deformation process, which results in a significant grain refinement of AZ91 matrix. Compared to submicron particles, micron particles are more conducive to grain refinement through stimulating the dynamic recrystallized nucleation. Besides, the yield strength of bimodal size SiCp/AZ91 composite is higher than that of single-size particle reinforced composites. Among the strengthening mechanisms of bimodal size particle reinforced composite, it is found that grain refinement and dislocation strengthening mechanism play a larger role on improving the yield strength.     

A Three-Dimensional Strain Gradient Plasticity Analysis of Particle Size Effect in Composite Materials

Recent experiments on particle-reinforced metal-matrix composite materials have shown particle size effects. Small particles tend to give larger plastic work hardening than large particles at the same particle volume fraction. Prior models used to study the particle size effect are based on the strain gradient plasticity theories, and these models are mainly axisymmetric models with vanishing lateral stress tractions in order to represent the uniaxial tension condition. However, the prior results fall short to agree with the experimental data. A three-dimensional (3D) unit-cell model is adopted in the present study. The periodic boundary conditions are imposed for the 3D unit cell to ensure the compatibility of the unit cell before and after the deformation. The particles are elastic, while the metal matrix is elastic-plastic and is characterized by the conventional theory of mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity, which is established from the Taylor dislocation model but does not involve the higher-order stress. It is shown that the 3D unit-cell model with the periodic boundary conditions gives better agreements with the experimental data than the unit-cell model with the traction-free boundary conditions on the lateral surfaces.     

SiC颗粒增强6061Al基复合材料的动态拉伸性能Ⅰ应变硬化

利用拉伸split Hopkinson bar实验装置研究了SiCp/6061Al复合材料及其基体合金的动态拉伸性能及应变硬化行为。结果表明，与静态加载类似，在动态加载条件下，SiCp/6061Al复合材料的强度高于基体合金的强度，其断裂延伸率低于基体合金的断裂延伸率，在低应变动态拉伸时，复合材料的应变硬化指数高于Al合金材料的应变硬化指数，随着应变的增加，复合材料的应变硬化指数迅速下降，以至低于基体合金的应变硬化指数。     

基材属性对铝蜂窝共面力学性能的影响

目的研究不同属性的基体材料对铝蜂窝共面压缩力学性能的影响。方法在保持正六边形蜂窝结构参数不变的情况下,改变基材属性,基体材料模型分别选择不同应变强化参数的双线性各向同性强化模型和理想弹塑性模型,建立相关可靠的有限元模型并进行大量的模拟计算。获得相应的变形模式和应力-应变曲线,对曲线进一步处理得到蜂窝共面静动态峰应力,并将结果以图表形式展示并分析。结果随着冲击速度的增加,样品依次出现了"X","V","一"字型3种变形模式,基体材料的应变强化效应使变形趋于均匀化;基体材料的应变强化效应显著增加了蜂窝的静态峰应力,对动态峰应力增量的影响可以忽略,对计算数据处理后得到了应变强化参数与动态峰应力的计算公式。结论基材具有强化特性的蜂窝,其共面静态力学性能优于基材为弹性理想塑性材料模型的蜂窝;在利用数值模拟的方法来研究蜂窝结构共面静态力学行为时,需要考虑基体材料的强化效应。     

Powder metallurgical fabrication of zirconium matrix cermet nuclear fuels

Two powder metallurgical fabrication methods for a zirconium-based cermet nuclear dispersion fuel with oxide microspheres have been demonstrated. A multi-pass, cold-drawing process is shown to have excellent capability to control the final matrix density, though it requires several high-temperature anneals during fabrication to relieve strain hardening and increase matrix–particle bonding. Severe oxide particle damage was observed in the cold-drawn fuel pin and was likely a result of high matrix deformation resistance at room temperature. A single-pass, hot-extrusion process has been demonstrated and was shown to be capable of providing a dense matrix phase with less particle damage. Both processes were shown to be effective fabrication methods for a zirconium-based cermet, and the process variables may be controlled to create the desired fuel properties.     

Effects of particle clustering on the tensile properties and failure mechanisms of hollow spheres filled syntactic foams: A numerical investigation by microstructure based modeling

Particle clustering originated from manufacturing process is thought to be one of the critical factors to the mechanical performance of hollow spheres filled syntactic foams. Although experimental evidence provides a qualitative understanding of the effects of particle clustering on the mechanical properties of syntactic foams, a quantitative assessment cannot be made in the absence of an appropriate micromechanical modeling strategy. In this study, three-dimensional microstructures of syntactic foams with different degrees of particle clustering were reconstructed based on random sequential adsorption (RSA) method. Three-phase finite element models considering the progressive damage behavior of the microsphere–matrix interface were accordingly developed by means of representative volume element (RVE) to quantitatively investigate the effects of particle clustering on the tensile properties and failure mechanisms of syntactic foams. The simulation results indicate that the elastic behavior of syntactic foams is insensitive to the degree of particle clustering, but the strength properties as well as the failure mechanisms are significantly influenced by the degree of particle clustering. From the micromechanical viewpoint, the clustered regions containing higher concentration of microspheres than the average volume fraction would serve as crack initiation sites due to stress concentration, and consequently lead to a negative effect on tensile strength, fracture strain, and interfacial damage of syntactic foams.     

颗粒形状对复合材料单轴棘轮行为及其细观塑性变形特征的影响

在细观有限元模型基础上 , 利用 ABAQUS有限元程序对具有不同颗粒形状(球形、 立方体、 短棱柱和短圆柱)的 SiC P/ 6061Al 合金复合材料的单调拉伸行为和单轴棘轮行为进行数值模拟 , 讨论颗粒形状对复合材料棘轮行为的影响。 结果表明: 颗粒形状对复合材料的弹性模量、 单拉行为和单轴棘轮行为均有较大影响。 在所讨论的几种颗粒形状中 , 球形颗粒的增强效果最弱 , 抵抗棘轮变形的能力最差 ; 不同短棱柱颗粒的增强效果与其拥有的棱边数有关 , 即五棱柱颗粒的增强效果最好 , 然后随棱边数的增加逐渐下降 , 最后接近于短圆柱形颗粒。通过有限元分析结果讨论了不同颗粒形状下基体的细观塑性变形特征及其演化规律 , 这些结果有助于分析该类复合材料损伤和失效机制。      

A parametric finite element study and an analytical model of particle distributions on post-necking deformation and failure mode in AA5754 aluminum alloy sheets

Finite element analysis of a simplified large particle field, edge constrained plane strain model is used for parametric studies of the influence of particle distributions on post-necking deformation and failure mode in AA5754 aluminum sheets. The models show that the post-necking deformation decreases with volume fraction of particles and fraction of stringers, and increases with interparticle spacing. It is to be noted that a stringer is a string of second phase particles that is frequently observed in continuous strip cast (CC) sheet aluminum alloys. The post-necking deformation initially decreases with the length of stringers, but after a critical stringer length, it increases. An analytical model to estimate the number of stringers which act as initial active damage sources is able to predict a critical stringer length for least post-necking deformation and can serve as a design tool.