Isotropized Voigt-Reuss model for prediction of elastic properties of particulate composites

Abstract

Voigt and Reuss models do not make any assumption regarding composite microstructure, but they are only able to estimate bounds rather than values of composite properties. To enable the models to predict elastic properties of particulate composites, we isotropized Voigt and Reuss models based on the equivalence of normal and shear strain energy respectively in a representative volume element, and derived a set of simple and uncoupled equations for the prediction of composite Young’s modulus and shear modulus. Composite bulk modulus and Poisson’s ratio can then be determined either by the elasticity relationships or by generalization of the isotropized Voigt-Reuss equations. Validation with reported experimental data show that, for composites with phase properties of either small or large contrast, isotropized Voigt-Reuss model has similar accuracy as the widely used micromechanical models, for the prediction of Young’s modulus and shear modulus.