Multi-scale analysis of effect of uncertainties on mechanical properties of particle reinforced metal matrix composites and experimental validation

Abstract

The results of quasi-static tensile experiments on the 20%(volume fraction) SiCp/2009Al composite show a significant dispersion of the mechanical properties such as failure strain. The effects of two uncertainties on macroscopic mechanical properties of the composite were investigated using a multiscale finite element approach. The distribution characteristics of failure strain and fracture energy, and their correlations were obtained from FE simulations of a series of mesoscale RVE models. Then combined with the macroscale model, the randomness of mechanical properties in various regions within the actual material can be characterized. The results of the quasi-static tensile simulations of the macroscale model show good agreement with the experimental results, and are also able to simulate the dispersion behavior of failure strain very well due to the introduction of material stochasticity.

Keywords

• particle-reinforced metal matrix composite
• uncertainty
• material stochasticity
• multi-scale finite element analysis