Determination of Effective Properties of MMC by Computational Homogenization

Abstract

On the macrolevel Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) resemble a homogeneous material. However, on the microlevel they show an inhomogeneous microstructure. This paper will have how heterogeneities affect the overall properties and the behaviour of a material (i.e. the effective properties). This is done using computational homogenization techniques. Finite element (FE) simulations were conducted in ABAQUS in connection with MATLAB, using material parameters for aluminium alloy AA2124 and SiC to develop a representative volume element (RVE) of the MMC AMC217xe.

Modeling of the Effective Properties of Metal Matrix Composites Using Computational Homogenization

“…σ Y , K and n are material constants known as initial yield stress, hardening modulus and hardening exponent, respectively. To complete the description of the model at hand, it remains to define the evolution laws for the plastic strain ε p and the equivalent plastic strain α given by (15) and (16). γ has to be greater or equal to zero to properly represent the irreversibility inherent in the response of…”

“…Trying to approximate the material answer of a realistic complex microstructure with simple geometry composed by only one particle is a daring assumption. The idea behind this decision came from following analytical homogenization schemes which are also based on simple RVE geometries, see the work of Eshelby (1957) [3], along with previous works [15] which suggest the volume fraction to be the decisive parameter when predicting of the macroscopic stress-strain response of MMC, as well as demonstrating that increasing the number of self-similar particles while keeping the volume fraction constant does not affect the macro stresses. In Figures 9 and 10 it can be seen that it is possible to obtain the same material response of an RVE with a real MMC geometry (ϕ experimental = 17%) by setting the appropriate volume fraction (ϕ equivalent = 26.54%) of an RVE with a simplified geometry.…”

Comparison of the resistance of monolithic and layered heterogeneous barriers to penetration by rigid and deformable strikers with an ogival nose based on numerical simulation

“…Several approaches have been proposed for modeling of MMC behavior in the process of deformation. The authors of [9] state that at the macro level, metal matrix composites (MMC) resemble homogeneous material, but at the micro level they have an inhomogeneous microstructure. The first step in the model development process is to decide on the size of the representative volume element (RVE).…”

“…The first step in the model development process is to decide on the size of the representative volume element (RVE). The further stages of the construction are clear from In contrast to [9], the authors of [10][11][12] used a different approach: inclusions of another material, for example ceramics, were introduced directly into the metal matrix in the MMC numerical model. The model from [11,12] allows one to create directly heterogeneous and gradient materials according to a given law of the distribution of ceramic concentrations in the metal.…”

“…Fig. 3from[9], where the geometric parameters for RVE are obtained from microphotographs using image processing software with open source software (OOF2) and MATLAB. Periodic boundary conditions have been successfully implemented in ABAQUS.…”