Elastic modulus of particulate composites using a multiphase model

In this paper a theoretical model for the evaluation of the elastic modulus of the particulate composites is presented. The model takes into account t he influence of neighbouring spherical inclusions on the stiffness of the c omposite material consisting of the matrix and filler. A microstructural co mposite model reproducing the basic cell of the composite at a microscopic scale was transformed to a 4-phase representative volume element in order t o apply the classical theory of elasticity to this simplified model of a co mposite-unit cell. Theoretical results based on this model were compared with experimental res ults carried out with iron-particle filled epoxy resin composites and also with other theoretical results derived from other works.