Chapter 10 - Metal matrix composites—Local and interfacial damage

Abstract

This chapter deals with the local and interfacial approaches to metal–matrix composites. The basic feature of the approach presented in this chapter is that local effects of damages are considered whereby these affects are described separately by the matrix, fiber, and interfacial damage. A local approach is used in the sense that damage is introduced at the constituent or local level. The metal–matrix composite used in this chapter consists of an elasto-plastic ductile metal matrix reinforced with elastic aligned continuous fibers. The composite system is restricted to small deformations with infinitesimal strains. Three fourth-rank damage tensors, MM, MF, and MD, are used for the two constituents: matrix and fibers of the composite system. The matrix damage effect tensor MM is assumed to reflect all types of damage that the matrix material undergoes like nucleation and coalescence of voids and microcracks. The fiber damage effect tensor MF is considered to reflect all types of fiber damage such as fracture of fibers. Finally, the interfacial damage effect tensor MD represents the interfacial damage between the matrix and the fibers. The overall damage tensor M is introduced to account for all the separate damages MM, MF, and MD that are present in a single lamina.