A GENERALIZED PLANE-STRAIN TECHNIQUE FOR ESTIMATING EFFECTIVE PROPERTIES OF PARTICULATE METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITES USING FEM

A procedure to estimate the effective elastic moduli and coefficient o f thermal expansion (CTE) of particulate-reinforced metal matrix compo sites (MMCs) using a two-dimensional finite element method is presente d. The actual microstructural geometry of the composites with randomly distributed second-phase particles is incorporated in the model. A ge neralized plane strain technique, realistically to describe the three- dimensional behaviour, is also incorporated in the model. The elastic moduli and the CTE, estimated using this model, agree favourably with the experimental data. The technique is shown to be superior compared to the conventional two-dimensional plane stress and plane strain appr oximations. Also, the results indicate that the effect of the shape of the randomly distributed second-phase particles on the effective elas tic moduli is insignificant. Although the procedure is demonstrated fo r particulate MMCs, it can be easily extended to many other materials as well.