Plastic constitutive behavior of short-fiber/particle reinforced composites

A cylindrical cell model based on continuum theory for plastic constitutive behavior of short-fiber/particle reinforced composites is proposed. The composite is idealized as uniformly distributed periodic arrays of aligned cells, and each cell consists of a cylindrical inclusion surrounded by a plastically deforming matrix. In the analysis, the non-uniform deformation field of the cell is decomposed into the sum of the first order approximate field and the trial additional deformation field. The precise deformation field are determined based on the minimum strain energy principle. Systematic calculation results are presented for the influence of reinforcement volume fraction and shape on the overall mechanical behavior of the composites. The results are in good agreement with the existing finite element analyses and the experimental results. This paper attempts to stimulate the work to get the analytical constitutive relation of short-fiber/particle reinforced composites.

A pseudo-plastic engagement effect on the toughening of discontinuous fiber-reinforced brittle composites

In brittle composites, such as whisker reinforced ceramics, the sliding of reinforcing fibers against the frictional resistance of matrix is of a pseudo-plastic deformation mechanism. High aspect-ratio whiskers possess larger pseudo-plastic deformation ability but are usually sparse, while, low aspect-ratio ones were distributed widely in the matrix and show low pseudo-plastic deformation ability (engagement effect), also. A comparative investigation was carried out in present study based on a multi-scale network model. The results indicate that the effect of low aspect-ratio whiskers is of most importance. Improving the engagement coefficient by raising the compactness of material seems a more practical way for optimization of discontinuous fiber-reinforced brittle composites in the present technological condition.

Characterization of Plastic Flow in Two Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glasses

Plastic deformation behaviors of Zr65Al10Ni10CU15 and Zr52.5Al10Ni10Cu15Be12.5 bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are studied by using the depth-sensing nanoindentation, microindentation and uniaxial compression. The Be-containing BMG exhibits a significantly improved overall plastic strain compared with the Be-free alloy during compressive tests. Both BMGs show a loading-rate-dependent serrated flow during nanoindentation measurements, but the Be-containing alloy exhibits a much lower critical loading rate for the disappearance of the serration than the Be-free BMG. The shear band patterns developed during plastic deformation are investigated by microindentation technique, wherein much higher shear band density is found in the Be-containing alloy than in the Be-free alloy, indicating an easier nucleation of shear bands in the former BMG. The difference in the plastic deformation behavior of the two BMGs can be explained by a free volume model.

Flows with Inertia in a Three-Dimensional Random Fiber Network

A fiber web is modeled as a three-dimensional random cylindrical fiber network. Nonlinear behavior of fluid flowing through the fiber network is numerically simulated by using the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method. A nonlinear relationship between the friction factor and the modified Reynolds number is clearly observed and analyzed by using the Fochheimer equation, which includes the quadratic term of velocity. We obtain a transition from linear to nonlinear region when the Reynolds numbers are sufficiently high, reflecting the inertial effect of the flows. The simulated permeability of such fiber network has relatively good agreement with the experimental results and finite element simulations.

Nd65Al10Fe25-xCox (x=0,5,10) bulk metallic glasses with wide supercooled liquid regions

Bulk metallic glasses of Nd65Al10Fe25-xCox (x=0,5,10) have been prepared in the form of 3 mm diam rods. Results of differential scanning calrimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and x-ray diffraction are presented for these alloys. It is shown that the glass transition and crystallization have been observed by DMTA. The reduced glass transition temperature of these glasses, defined as the ratio between the glass transition temperature T-g and the melting temperature T-l is in the range from 0.55 to 0.62. All these glasses have a large supercooled liquid region (SLR), ranging from 80 to 130 K. The high value of reduced glass transition temperature and wide SLR agree with their good glass formation ability.

Deformation Morphology Underneath the Vickers Indent in Bulk Metallic Glasses

Plastic deformation behaviour of Zr52.5Al10Ni10Cu15Be12.5 and Mg65Cu25Gd10 bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) is studied by using the depth-sensing nanoindentation and microindentation. The subsurface plastic deformation zone of the BMGs is investigated using the bonded interface technique. Both the BMGs exhibit the serrated flow depending on the loading rate in the loading process of indentation. Slow indentation rates promote more conspicuous serrations, and rapid indentations suppress the serrated flow. Mg-based BMG shows a much higher critical loading rate for the disappearance of the serration than that in Zr-based BMG. The significant difference in the shear band pattern in the subsurface plastic deformation zone is responsible for the different deformation behaviour between the two BMGs. Increase of the loading rate can lead to the increase of the density of shear bands. However, there is no distinct change in the character of shear bands at the loading rate of as high as 1000 nm/s.

Debonding and cracking energy release rate of the fiber/matrix interface

An investigation of fiber/matrix interfacial fracture energy is presented in this paper. Several existing theoretical expressions for the fracture energy of interfacial debonding are reviewed. For the single-fiber/matrix debonding and pull-out experimental model, a study is carried out on the effect of interfacial residual compressive stress and friction on interface cracking energy release rate.

Single Curved Fiber Sedimentation Under Gravity

Dynamics of single curved fiber sedimentation under gravity are simulated by using the lattice Boltzmann method. The results of migration and rotation of the curved fiber at different Reynolds numbers are reported. The results show that the rotation and migration processes are sensitive to the curvature of the fiber. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modified Generalized Beam Lattice Model Associated With Fracture Of Reinforced Fiber/Particle Composites

Lattice-type model can simulate in a straightforward manner heterogeneous brittle media. Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion has recently been involved into the generalized beam (GB) lattice model, and as a result, numerical experiments on concrete under various loading conditions can be conducted. The GB lattice model is further used to investigate the reinforced fiber/particle composites instead of only particle composites as the model did before. Numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the modeling procedure, and influences of inclusions (particle, fiber and rebar) on the fracture processes are also discussed. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Atomistic Origin Of Rate-Dependent Serrated Plastic Flow In Metallic Glasses

Nanoindentation simulations on a binary metallic glass were performed under various strain rates by using molecular dynamics. The rate-dependent serrated plastic flow was clearly observed, and the spatiotemporal behavior of its underlying irreversible atomic rearrangement was probed. Our findings clearly validate that the serration is a temporally inhomogeneous characteristic of such rearrangements and not directly dependent on the resultant shear-banding spatiality. The unique spatiotemporal distribution of shear banding during nanoindentation is highlighted in terms of the potential energy landscape (PEL) theory.

The Characterization Of Creep And Time-Dependent Properties Of Bulk Metallic Glasses Using Nanoindentation

Viscoelastic deformation and creep behavior of La- and Ce-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with low glass transition temperature are investigated through nanoindentation at room temperature. Creep compliance and retardation spectra are derived to study the creep mechanism. The time-dependent displacement can be well described by a generalized Kelvin model. A modification is proposed to determine the elastic modulus from the generalized Kelvin model. The results are in excellent agreement with the elastic modulus determined by uniaxial compression tests. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

A Modified Free Volume Model For Characterizing Of Rate Effect In Bulk Metallic Glasses

We investigate the plastic deformation and constitutive behaviour of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs). A dimensionless Deborah number De(ID) = t(r)/t(i) is proposed to characterize the rate effect in BMGs, where t(r) is the structural relaxing characteristic time of BMGs under shear load, t(i) is the macroscopic imposed characteristic time of applied stress or the characteristic time of macroscopic deformation. The results demonstrate that the modified free volume model can characterize the strain rate effect in BMGs effectively.

Energy Dissipation In Fracture Of Bulk Metallic Glasses Via Inherent Competition Between Local Softening And Quasi-Cleavage

Compression, tension and high-velocity plate impact experiments were performed on a typical tough Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu10Ni12.5Be22.5 (Vit 1) bulk metallic glass (BMG) over a wide range of strain rates from similar to 10(-4) to 10(6) s(-1). Surprisingly, fine dimples and periodic corrugations on a nanoscale were also observed on dynamic mode I fracture surfaces of this tough Vit 1. Taking a broad overview of the fracture patterning of specimens, we proposed a criterion to assess whether the fracture of BMGs is essentially brittle or plastic. If the curvature radius of the crack tip is greater than the critical wavelength of meniscus instability [F. Spaepen, Acta Metall. 23 615 (1975); A.S. Argon and M. Salama, Mater. Sci. Eng. 23 219 (1976)], microscale vein patterns and nanoscale dimples appear on crack surfaces. However, in the opposite case, the local quasi-cleavage/separation through local atomic clusters with local softening in the background ahead of the crack tip dominates, producing nanoscale periodic corrugations. At the atomic cluster level, energy dissipation in fracture of BMGs is, therefore, determined by two competing elementary processes, viz. conventional shear transformation zones (STZs) and envisioned tension transformation zones (TTZs) ahead of the crack tip. Finally, the mechanism for the formation of nanoscale periodic corrugation is quantitatively discussed by applying the present energy dissipation mechanism.