Multiscale modeling of the damaged plastic behavior and failure of Al SiCpcomposites

We studied the tensile behavior and damage of an aluminium X2080 reinforced with different volume fractions of silicon carbide particles. The main dam age mechanism is particle failure. Regions of the matrix adjacent to broken particles are sites with high hydrostatic tension and hence the nucleation of cavities is expected. Using J integral and HRR modified solution it is possible to calculate the growth of these voids. Macroscopic failure is gov erned by a critical volume fraction of voids. The originality of this work lies in the modeling of the composite using a micromechanical approach. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.