Ratcheting Response of Particle-Reinforced Metal-Matrix Composite Under Asymmetric Stress Cycles

The present study intends to examine ratcheting response of SiCP/6061Al Particle-Reinforced Metal-Matrix Composite (PRMMC) samples over asymmetric load cycles based on two nonlinear kinematic hardening rule of Ahmadzadeh-Varvani (A-V) and Gue-Kang-Zhang (GKZ). The ratcheting values of two different volume fractions predicted based on the GKZ model were influenced by the number of backstress components. The ratcheting parameter  was introduced into the GKZ model to describe the quasi-shakedown of ratcheting in PRMM composite. The A-V hardening rule offered a simple framework by taking into account both material and cyclic stress level dependent coefficients to predict ratcheting strain over loading cycles. The choice of hardening rules in the assessment of materials ratcheting was further discussed in terms of capability of simulation of ratcheting strain within early cycles of stressing, the complexity of the hardening rule, and number of constants/coefficients required to characterize ratcheting response.