Effects of dendrite interphase on the strength of continuous fiber-reinforced metal matrix composites

Abstract

Many composites have a kind of dendrite interfacial reaction product. The effects of this dendrite interphase on interfacial cracks, fiber strength and the transfer of interfacial loads were demonstrated in terms of the stress concentration factor calculated with the boundary element method (BEM). It was shown that the stress concentration factor is varied with the geometric parameters of the dendrite interphase. The existence of a dendrite interphase along the interface greatly enhanced the interfacial bond strength and the stress concentration and accelerated the premature damage of the composite.