The influence of inclusion geometry and thermal residual stresses and strai
ns on the mechanical behaviour of a 20 vol% Al2O3 particulate reinforced 60
61-T0 Al alloy metal matrix composite is investigated through finite elemen
t analysis. The introduction of residual thermal stresses/strains prior to
external loading leads to a decrease of the proportional limit, 0.2% offset
yield stress and the apparent stiffness. The residual stresses/strains are
shown to have a greater effect on the composite behaviour under compressiv
e loading than tensile loading. The residual stresses/strains have little e
ffect on the cyclic behaviour of the composite. In only the second cycle, t
he difference between the cyclic curves, with and without a thermal history
, was 2 MPa. Use of a cube shaped particle, with sharp corners and edges, i
n the unit cell model led to much greater initial hardening behaviour than
spherical inclusions, and therefore a greater 0.2% offset yield stress due
to stress/strain localisation at the particle corners and edges. This resul
ts in regions of constrained plasticity and high stress triaxiality in the
matrix around the particle, producing improved load transfer in the composi
te. It is shown that inclusion aspect ratio, in the range of 0.5-2.0, has a
n impact on the yield stress. A minimum yield stress occurred at an aspect
ratio of approximately 0.9 with significant increases on either side of thi
s point. The influence of residual stress/strain had a similar effect throu
ghout the aspect ratio range except tensile loading, following thermal trea
tment, on unit cells with inclusion aspect ratios greater than 1.5 resulted
in the highest yield stresses. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r
eserved.