A micromechanical model of influence of particle fracture and particle cluster on mechanical properties of metal matrix composites

A general analytical model for a composite with an isotropic matrix and two populations of spherical inclusions is proposed. The method is based on the second order moment of stress for evaluating the homogenised effective stress in the matrix and on the secant moduli concept for the plastic deformation. With Webull's statistical law for the strength of SiCp particles, the model can quantitatively predict the influence of particle fracture on the mechanical properties of PMMCs. Application of the proposed model to the particle cluster shows that the particle cluster has neglected influence on the strain and stress curves of the composite. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Formation of adiabatic shear band in metal matrix composites

A modified single-pulse loading split Hopkinson torsion bar (SSHTB) is introduced to investigate adiabatic shear banding behavior in SiCp particle reinforced 2024 Al composites in this work. The experimental results showed that formation of adiabatic shear band in the composite with smaller particles is more readily observed than that in the composite with larger particles. To characterize this size-dependent deformation localization behavior of particle reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCp), a strain gradient dependent shear instability analysis was performed. The result demonstrated that high strain gradient provides a deriving force for the formation of adiabatic shear banding in MMCp. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Laser synthesizing NiAl intermetallic and TiC reinforced NiAl intermetallic matrix composite

The NiAl intermetallic layers and NiAl matrix composite layers with TiC particulate reinforcement were successfully synthesized by laser cladding with coaxial powder feeding of Ni/Al clad powder and Ni/Al + TiC powder mixture, respectively. With optimized processing parameters and powder mixture compositions, the synthesized layers were free of cracks and metallurgical bond with the substrate. The microstructure of the laser-synthesized layers was composed of 6-NiAl phase and a few gamma phases for NiAl intermetallic; unmelted TiC, dispersive fine precipitated TiC particles and refined beta-NiAl phase matrix for TiC reinforced NiAl intermetallic composite. The average microhardness was 355 HV0.1 and 538 HV0.1, respectively. Laser synthesizing and direct metal depositing offer promising approaches for producing NiAl intermetallic and TiC-reinforced NiAl metal matrix composite coatings and for fabricating NiAl intermetallic bulk structure. (C) 2004 Laser Institute of America.

Sequential Monte Carlo computation of the score and observed information matrix in state-space models with application to parameter estimation

Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) methods are popular computational tools for Bayesian inference in non-linear non-Gaussian state-space models. For this class of models, we propose SMC algorithms to compute the score vector and observed information matrix recursively in time. We propose two different SMC implementations, one with computational complexity $\mathcal{O}(N)$ and the other with complexity $\mathcal{O}(N^{2})$ where $N$ is the number of importance sampling draws. Although cheaper, the performance of the $\mathcal{O}(N)$ method degrades quickly in time as it inherently relies on the SMC approximation of a sequence of probability distributions whose dimension is increasing linearly with time. In particular, even under strong \textit{mixing} assumptions, the variance of the estimates computed with the $\mathcal{O}(N)$ method increases at least quadratically in time. The $\mathcal{O}(N^{2})$ is a non-standard SMC implementation that does not suffer from this rapid degrade. We then show how both methods can be used to perform batch and recursive parameter estimation.

The annular crack in a nonhomogeneous matrix surrounding a fiber under torsional loading .2. The crack going through the bimaterial interface into the fiber

The axisymmetric problem of an elastic fiber perfectly bonded to a nonhomogeneous elastic matrix which contains an annular crack going through the interface into the fiber under axially symmetric shear stress is considered. The nature of the stress singularity is studied. It is shown that at the irregular point on the interface, whether the shear modulus is continuous or discontinuous the stresses are bounded. The problem is formulated in terms of a singular integral equation and can be solved by a regular method. The stress intensity factors and crack surface displacement are given.

Influence of secondary void damage in the matrix material around voids

The mechanism of ductile damage caused by secondary void damage in the matrix around primary voids is studied by large strain, finite element analysis. A cylinder embedding an initially spherical void, a plane stress cell with a circular void and plane strain cell with a cylindrical or a flat void are analysed under different loading conditions. Secondary voids of smaller scale size nucleate in the strain hardening matrix, according to the requirements of some stress/strain criteria. Their growth and coalescence, handled by the empty element technique, demonstrate distinct mechanisms of damage as circumstances change. The macroscopic stress-strain curves are decomposed and illustrated in the form of the deviatoric and the volumetric parts. Concerning the stress response and the void growth prediction, comparisons are made between the present numerical results and those of previous authors. It is shown that loading condition, void growth history and void shape effect incorporated with the interaction between two generations of voids should be accounted for besides the void volume fraction.