An iterative approach to mechanical properties of MMCs at the onset of plastic deformation

The current work presents a generalized Eshelby model allowing interaction among reinforcing particles under a Mori-Tanaka like scheme. Different aspect ratios and geometries are studied in the elastic and incipient elasto-plastic regime for a model SiCAl composite. The fibers are taken as purely elastic and the matrix is regarded elastic perfectly plastic responding to a Von Mises yield criterion. The phenomenon of plastic localization in the vicinities of the inclusions is carefully described for different reinforcement volume fractions and thermo-mechanical loading. Equivalent stress, hydrostatic pressure and elastic and plastic strains are depicted as contour levels around a representative inclusion. Effective coefficients of thermal expansion of composites are calculated both under purely elastic composite response and at the onset of plastic localized deformation. The influence of plastic strain over those effective coefficients is shown to be detectable. The simulated stress-strain curves show the influence of interaction stresses over macroscopic yield stress by isolating this phenomenon from matrix hardening. Accumulated elastic energies and plastic work are calculated to show the different nature of purely thermal and mechanical loads.