Micromechanics constitutive model for predicting the stress–strain relations of particle toughened bulk metallic glass matrix composites

Abstract

Based on the secant modulus and extended Mori-Tanaka method for dual ductile phases, a micromechanics model is proposed to predict the monotonic mechanical behaviors of bulk metallic glass matrix composites (BMGCs) toughened by particles. In this model, the deformation behaviors of the BMG matrix and particles are described by the use of the free volume model and the simple Ludwik flow equation, respectively, and Weng's homogenization frame is adopted to bridge the constituents and the composites. As compared to the existing relevant models, the present model is much more convenient for applying, and more readily to be extended. The developed model is applied with stain-controlled loading, and is verified by modeling the monotonic stress–strain relations of particle toughened BMGCs. The predictions were in good agreement with the experiments from the literature, which confirms that the developed analytical model is capable of successfully describing the mechanical properties, such as yield strength, stress hardening and strain softening elongation, of composites.