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Micromechanics effects in creep of metal-matrix composites

Journal Article · · Metallurgical Transactions, A
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02669438· OSTI ID:205243
;  [1]
  1. Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI (United States). Research Lab.

The creep of metal-matrix composites is analyzed by finite element techniques. An axisymmetric unit-cell model with spherical reinforcing particles is used. Parameters appropriate to TiC particles in a precipitation-hardened (2219) Al matrix are chosen. The effects of matrix plasticity and residual stresses on the creep of the composite are calculated. The authors confirm (1) that the steady-state rate is independent of the particle elastic moduli and the matrix elastic and plastic properties, (2) that the ratio of composite to matrix steady-state rates depends only on the volume fraction and geometry of the reinforcing phase, and (3) that this ratio can be determined from a calculation of the stress-strain relation for the geometrically identical composite (same phase volume and geometry) with rigid particles in the appropriate power-law hardening matrix. The values of steady-state creep are compared to experimental ones (Krajewski et al.). Continuum mechanics predictions give a larger reduction of the composite creep relative to the unreinforced material than measured, suggesting that the effective creep rate of the matrix is larger than in unreinforced precipitation-hardened Al due to changes in microstructure, dislocation density, or creep mechanism. Changes in matrix creep properties are also suggested by the comparison of calculated and measured creep strain rates in the primary creep regime, where significantly different time dependencies are found. It is found that creep calculations performed for a time-independent matrix creep law can be transformed to obtain the creep for a time-dependent creep law.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
205243
Report Number(s):
CONF-940204--
Journal Information:
Metallurgical Transactions, A, Journal Name: Metallurgical Transactions, A Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 26; ISSN 0360-2133; ISSN MTTABN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English