Effect of inclusion shape on the effective elastic moduli for composites with imperfect interface

Bounds on the effective elastic moduli for isotropic composites consisting of randomly oriented spheroidal inclusions with imperfect matrix-inclusion interface are proposed based on Hashin's extremum principle. Phenomenally, these bounds are the first-order ones for such composites, and contain the effect of the size and shape of inclusions, and the elastic properties of c onstituent phases and interfaces. Is the limit cases, these bounds reduce t o those known ones. The effect of inclusion shape and interface imperfectio n on the bounds is discussed with some numerical results for a WC/Co metal- matrix composite.