The law of mixtures applied to the plastic deformation of two- phase alloys of coarse microstructures

The theory of the mechanical law of mixtures is reviewed and applied to the partition of stress and of strain in two-phase alloys. It is shown that the modified law of mixtures, based on averagein situ stress and strain, is valid for small deformations and is compatible with strengthening theories based on continuum and dislocation mechanics. The plastic deformation behavior of two representative two-phase alloys,i.e., a spheroidized high carbon steel and a duplex stainless steel, was studied by taking into account the mutual interactions between phases. The law of mixtures and dispersion strengthening theory were used to evaluate the strength contribution of each phase.