Effect of particle cracking on elastoplastic behaviour of metal matrix composites

A micromechanics-based elastoplastic and damage constitutive model is proposed to predict the overall mechanical behaviour of particle-reinforced metal matrix composites. Unidirectionally aligned spheroidal elastic particles, some of which contain penny-shaped cracks, are randomly distributed in the elastoplastic metal matrix. These imperfect particles, attributed to progressive particle cracking, are modelled by using the double-inclusion concept. An ensemble-volume averaged homogenization procedure is employed to estimate the e ective yield function of the damaged composites. The associative plastic ow rule and the hardening law are postulated based on the continuum plasticity theory. The underlying damage evolution of particles is considered in accordance with the Weibull’s statistical function to characterize the varying probability of reinforcement cracking. The elastoplastic mechanical behaviour of particulate composites under uniaxial loading conditions is simulated and compared with available experimental results