EXAMINATION OF TENSILE COMPRESSIVE LOADING ASYMMETRIES IN ALUMINUM-BASED METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITES USING FINITE-ELEMENT METHOD/

Three-dimensional finite element method models have been used to inves tigate features of the stress-strain responses for compressive and ten sile loadings of whisker reinforced metal matrix composites. Two unit cells have been used; in each the composite is represented as a period ic array of short fibres within a metal matrix. The two unit cells, re present staggered and in registry fibre arrangements. Calculations hav e been carried out and compared with recently published experimental r esults of the first differentials of the stress-strain response of a S iC whisker reinforced 2009 series Al alloy composite.