Dual scale non-linear stress analysis of a fibrous metal matrix composite

Precise estimation of local stress profiles in individual phases of a fiber reinforced metal matrix composite is a crucial concern for design of composites. Stress profiles are significantly affected by plastic relaxation of soft matrix. In this work, an analytical model was developed to compute local stress profiles in individual phases of fibrous metal matrix composites. To this end, embedded cell cylindrical composite model was applied in which a layered concentric cylinder consisting of a fiber-, matrix- and homogenized composite layers was used. Mean field micromechanics was integrated into the conventional elasticity solution process so that micro-macro dual scale analysis could be performed. The algorithm was formulated in an iterative incremental structure which was able to perform plastic analysis. This also allows temperature dependence of flow stress to be considered. Taking copper-SiC system as a reference composite, stress profiles were obtained for mechanical and thermal loading cases. For comparison, independent finite element analyses were carried out for two different unit cell models. Excellent agreement between analytical and numerical solutions was found for the mechanical loading case even for plastic range. In the case of thermal loading, however, plastic solutions revealed notable difference in quantity, especially for the axial stress component.