A numerical study of the mechanical and fracture properties of ZTA (zirconia toughened alumina)p/40Cr steel spatial spherical dot matrix composite

Abstract

In this work, the geometrical characteristics of ZTA reinforcement particles were obtained, and a three-dimensional numerical model of ZTAp/40Cr steel spatial spherical dot matrix composite, similar to the actual structure, was established. In addition, the matrix toughness and shear fracture criterion, the brittle failure criterion of reinforcement particles, and the interfacial traction splitting criterion were all established. Under uniaxial compression, the influence of constitutive factors (volume fraction of spatial spherical dot matrix composite zone - VFB, and particle size - RPS) on the mechanical characteristics and fracture behavior of spatial spherical dot matrix composites was investigated. The elastic modulus, the compressive strength, and elongation in the stress–strain curves were calculated to assess the mechanical properties of the composites, and the particle average Mises stress and particle stress concentration coefficient were introduced to quantify the load carrying capacity of the composites. Furthermore, the fracture behavior of the secondary interface damage, the internal isotropic strain, and the macroscopic failure behavior were used to study the composites' fracture behavior. A new approach and theoretical foundation for following composites conformal design were established.