Debonding of short fibres among particulates in a metal matrix composite (Q1434656)

The present study is focused on failure by matrix-fibre debonding, using a cohesive zone model that describes decohesion by any mixture of normal separation and tangential separation. The present extension of a special axisymmetric cell-model to include a number of differently shaped fibres within each cell has made it possible to study some effects of non-uniform fibre distributions, while still retaining realistic fibre geometries, and avoiding the large computing times associated with full damage evolution and crack formation in three-dimensional analysis. After debounding at the fibre end, during the stage of gradual fibre pull-out, it is found that the average stress level is determined by the aspect ratio of the fibres that are still bonded to the matrix.