Microstructural factors controlling the strength and ductility of particle-reinforced metal-matrix composites (Q1961386)

The authors represent the micro-structure of composites as three-dimensional array of hexagonal prisms with one reinforcement at the center of each prism. The shape, volume fraction and state of the reinforcement are independent for each cell, so the interaction among all these factors could be studied. The tensile response of the composite is determined from the behavior of the intact and damaged cells. The authors use this model to determine the microstructural factors which provide optimum behavior from the point of view of tensile strength and ductility. In their analysis, the authors include the effect of matrix and reinforcement properties, reinforcement volume fraction, the interaction between reinforcements of different shape, and heterogeneous distribution of reinforcements within the composites.