Simulation and quantitative assessment of finite-size particle distributions in metal matrix composites

A series of finite-size particle distributions mere simulated to investigat e the effects of particle size, shape, orientation, and area fraction on th e quantification of homogeneity in structural particulate metal matrix comp osites (MMCs). It is found that, for nominally random distributions, the va lues of conventional centre-to-centre nearest-neighbour spacing parameters are influenced by particle morphology, and, as such, are unsuitable for cha racterising distributions of finite-size particles. However, the coefficien t of variation of the mean near-neighbour distance COV(d(mean)), derived fr om particle interfaces using finite-body tessellation, appears independent of particle shape, size distribution, orientation, and area fraction, while showing great sensitivity to particle clustering. In the range of particle morphological characteristics studied, the random distributions mere found to exhibit a consistent value of COV(d(mean)) equal to 0.36 +/- 0.02. The degree of inhomogeneity of any given distribution may then be evaluated by simply comparing the measured COV(d(mean)) with this value. MST/4568. (C) 2 000 IoM Communications Ltd.