Micromechanics based random material property fields for particulate reinforced composites

Particle reinforced metal matrix composites offer a number of advantages ov er continuously reinforced composites. They generally can be made using con ventional metal-working processes and often fabricated to near net shape. L ike continuously reinforced composites though, the potential exists to tail or these materials for higher specific stiffnesses, greater strength and im proved fracture properties over their homogeneous counterparts. Their effec tive use requires an accurate characterization, which is made difficult by a three-dimensional (3D) random microstructure. A micromechanics based movi ng window technique, used to develop material property fields associated wi th the random 3D microstructure of a particulate reinforced composite, is d escribed in this paper. The resulting sample material property fields are c omputationally tractable and have a direct link to the composite microstruc ture. The method can be used to generate material property fields for elast ic or inelastic properties. Statistical and probabilistic descriptions of t hese property fields can subsequently be used to simulate the material and characterize the variability of the material response. The method is illust rated in this paper by generating fields for selected elastic moduli develo ped from a numerically simulated microstructure. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.