PLASTIC-DEFORMATION BEHAVIOR OF A UNIAXIAL METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITE UNDER TRANSVERSE COMPRESSION

Plastic deformation behavior of a stainless-steel/Sn-Bi composite was examined using transverse compression tests on rectangular specimens u nder plane strain loadings. Based on the anisotropic yield criterion p roposed by Hill, a theoretical analysis on the relationship between th e yield strength of the matrix material and the yield strength of the composite was developed and compared to experimental results. Experime nts were carried out to investigate the effects of the forming paramet ers such as yield strength of the matrix material, fiber packing patte rn;, fiber volume fraction, and lubrication of the compression platens , on the plastic deformation behavior of the metal matrix composite. F ailure modes of the composite included shear band formation and eye fo rmation at the fiber-matrix interface. Low deformability in the transv erse directions was found for the metal matrix composite specimen. The theoretical and experimental results on the effects of the forming pa rameters provide basic information for further research on the transve rse compression of metal matrix composite materials.