Numerical investigation of local mechanical properties of WC/Co composite

This paper focuses on the problem of local mechanical properties estimation in the real microstructure of WC/Co composite. Finite element analysis (FEA) was applied to modelling of the initial elastic and elastic–plastic response of WC/Co. Analysis, based on images of the real microstructure obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), provides necessary information for modelling of the complex microstructure. The area fractions of composite components were assessed using own software MePro. Several random cut-outs from the real microstructure were used to create representative surface elements (RSE). In order to investigate RSE size and anisotropy effects in the analysis, several different sizes and different numbers of grains RSE were considered. The numerical results are in good agreement with published data for assessment of material properties and stress–strain behaviour.