Title: Extension of anisotropic effective medium theory to account for an arbitrary number of inclusion types

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to extend, to multi-components, a previously reported theory for calculating the effective conductivity of a two component mixture. The previously reported theory involved preferentially oriented spheroidal inclusions contained in a continuous matrix, with inclusions oriented relative to a principle axis. This approach was based on Bruggeman's unsymmetrical theory, and is extended to account for an arbitrary number of different inclusion types. The development begins from two well-known starting points; the Maxwell approach and the Maxwell-Garnett approach for dilute mixtures. It is shown that despite these two different starting points, the final Bruggeman type equation is the same. As a means of validating the developed expression, comparisons are made to several existing effective medium theories. It is shown that these existing theories coincide with the developed equations for the appropriate parameter set. Finally, a few example mixtures are considered to demonstrate the effect of multiple inclusions on the calculated effective property. Inclusion types of different conductivities, shapes, and orientations are considered and each of the aforementioned properties is shown to have a potentially significant impact on the calculated mixture property.

Authors:

Myles, Timothy D. ^[1]; Peracchio, Aldo A. ^[1]; Chiu, Wilson K. S. ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Publication Date:

Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 2015

Research Org.:

Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC), Washington, DC (United States). Heterogeneous Functional Materials Center (HeteroFoaM)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

OSTI Identifier:

1370146

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1228477

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0001061

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of Applied Physics

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 117; Journal Issue: 2; Related Information: HeteroFoaM partners with University of South Carolina (lead); University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Connecticut; Georgia Institute of Technology; Princeton University; Rochester Institute of Technology; Savannah River National Laboratory; University of South Carolina; University of Utah; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979

Publisher:

American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

42 ENGINEERING; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE