Plastic deformation and fracture behaviors in particle-reinforced aluminum composites: A numerical approach using an enhanced finite element model

Abstract

A microstructure-based comprehensive finite element model, which incorporated the deformation/fracture of the matrix alloy, fracture of the particle and decohesion of interface, was built to predict the effects of particle size and shape on the plastic deformation and fracture behaviors in particle-reinforced metal matrix composites. The effect of particle size on the yield strength and work hardening rate of the matrix alloy was demonstrated. When the particle diameter is <10 µm, the fracture of the matrix alloy near the interface dominates the failure mechanism of the composite, whereas changed to particle fracture with particle diameter >10 µm. A cohesive zone model was also included in order to predict interfacial failure behavior. It was noted that SiC/Al interface exhibits a high interfacial bonding strength and the interfacial decohesion was caused by crack propagation from the particle to the interface. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experiment tensile test results in the SiCp/6061Al composite.

Enhanced stress concentration sensitivity of SiCp/Al composite with network architecture

“…So, more loads may be transferred from matrix to reinforcement at the sharp corner of hexahedron particles, which is consistent to homogeneous composites. 32,33 The stress state of SiCp is related to the layer orientation (θ). The statistics of orientation distribution without (Supplementary Figure S7(a)) and with (Supplementary Figure S7(b)) area weight were made.…”

“…The failure behavior of SiCp/Al network composite is clearly particle shape dependent, as illustrated in Figure 4. It can be observed that the crack length is larger for hexahedron particle (top surface of Figure 4(a)) because particles with sharp corner carry more loads 32,33 and thus more prone to fracture (Figure 2(a), curve declines early) than twenty-six face polyhedron and sphere particles. In addition, cracks also exist in PaW (marked by circles, Figure 4), but the ductile Al matrix may prevent the crack propagation in PaW.…”

“…We designed a novel geometrical model with complex network structure by which the plastic deformation and fracture behaviors were evaluated. 31 Experimental studies indicated that reinforcement shape has a significant effect on stress distribution 32,33 and physical properties. 34 Simulations based on 3D geometrical model demonstrated the effectiveness of predicting the deformation and failure behaviors in MMCs.…”

“…Experimental studies indicated that reinforcement shape has a significant effect on stress distribution 32,33 and physical properties. 34 Simulations based on 3D geometrical model demonstrated the effectiveness of predicting the deformation and failure behaviors in MMCs.…”

Predictive Computational Model for Damage Behavior of Metal-Matrix Composites Emphasizing the Effect of Particle Size and Volume Fraction

“…It was concluded that the interface strength and the particle arrangement have considerable influences on the strength and failure strain of PRMMCs. An RVE model was proposed to investigate fracture behaviors in Al6061/SiC composites using CZM for interface decohesion and Griffith criterion for the particle fracture [ 18 ]. A high interfacial Al/SiC bonding was noticed and the interfacial debonding occurred during the crack growth from the particle to the interface.…”