On the reduced parameter dependence of the Mori-Tanaka theory

In this paper we study the effective elastic moduli of composite materials and explore the possibility of reducing the number of independent variables . More specifically we consider the results for the effective planar elasti c moduli of composites containing circular inclusions. We assume that the i nterface between the matrix and inclusions is either perfectly bonded or is allowed to slip, and we employ the Mori-Tanaka theory (T. Mori, K. Tanaka, Acta Metall. 21 (1973) 571: Y. Benveniste. Mech. Mater. 6 (1987) 147) to a ccount for inclusions' interaction. In the analysis we use a recent result in plane elasticity due to Cherkaev et al. (A. Cherkaev, K. Lurie, G.W. Mil ton, Proc. R. Sec. A 438 (1992) 519) and Dundurs constants (J. Dundurs. J. Comp. Mater. 1 (1967) 310: J. Dundurs. J. Appl. Mech. 36 (1969) 650). (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.