On the Use of Microstructure Characteristics to Predict Metal Matrix Composites’ Macroscopic Mechanical Behavior

In recent decades, the construction of statistically similar representative volume elements (SSRVEs) of materials for use in numerical analyses has been accomplished utilizing various methods, tools, and frameworks. Such a framework is introduced in this work, where the creation of 3D SSRVEs of meta...

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Main Authors: Ioannis Markopoulos, Leonidas-Alexandros Kouris, Avraam Konstantinidis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4989
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author Ioannis Markopoulos
Leonidas-Alexandros Kouris
Avraam Konstantinidis
author_facet Ioannis Markopoulos
Leonidas-Alexandros Kouris
Avraam Konstantinidis
author_sort Ioannis Markopoulos
collection DOAJ
description In recent decades, the construction of statistically similar representative volume elements (SSRVEs) of materials for use in numerical analyses has been accomplished utilizing various methods, tools, and frameworks. Such a framework is introduced in this work, where the creation of 3D SSRVEs of metal matrix composites was investigated to assess their mechanical properties with reference to the material’s microstructure. The material studied was a composite based on AA7075 alloy reinforced with carbon fibers, with volume fractions of 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12%. The statistics of the alloy’s microstructure were extracted by segmenting an SEM image and fitting the precipitate particles’ sizes with respect to a lognormal distribution. The open-source software DREAM.3D was used to construct 3D ensembles and the Abaqus FEA software was employed for the mechanical testing simulations. By plotting the tensile stress–strain curves for the composites, it was found that the elastic modulus increased with the fibers’ volume fraction, obeying the rule of mixtures for discontinuous fibrous composites. The fiber efficiency factors were also calculated. The yield stresses of the composites were found and compared to the ones expected according to the shear-lag model, indicating major differences.
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spelling doaj.art-c23d5a89c88f441a969bfd70779243b82023-11-17T18:12:07ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-04-01138498910.3390/app13084989On the Use of Microstructure Characteristics to Predict Metal Matrix Composites’ Macroscopic Mechanical BehaviorIoannis Markopoulos0Leonidas-Alexandros Kouris1Avraam Konstantinidis2Laboratory of Engineering Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Engineering Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Engineering Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceIn recent decades, the construction of statistically similar representative volume elements (SSRVEs) of materials for use in numerical analyses has been accomplished utilizing various methods, tools, and frameworks. Such a framework is introduced in this work, where the creation of 3D SSRVEs of metal matrix composites was investigated to assess their mechanical properties with reference to the material’s microstructure. The material studied was a composite based on AA7075 alloy reinforced with carbon fibers, with volume fractions of 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12%. The statistics of the alloy’s microstructure were extracted by segmenting an SEM image and fitting the precipitate particles’ sizes with respect to a lognormal distribution. The open-source software DREAM.3D was used to construct 3D ensembles and the Abaqus FEA software was employed for the mechanical testing simulations. By plotting the tensile stress–strain curves for the composites, it was found that the elastic modulus increased with the fibers’ volume fraction, obeying the rule of mixtures for discontinuous fibrous composites. The fiber efficiency factors were also calculated. The yield stresses of the composites were found and compared to the ones expected according to the shear-lag model, indicating major differences.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4989metal matrix compositesAA7075 alloystatistically similar representative volume elementsfinite elements methodrule of mixturesshear-lag model
spellingShingle Ioannis Markopoulos
Leonidas-Alexandros Kouris
Avraam Konstantinidis
On the Use of Microstructure Characteristics to Predict Metal Matrix Composites’ Macroscopic Mechanical Behavior
Applied Sciences
metal matrix composites
AA7075 alloy
statistically similar representative volume elements
finite elements method
rule of mixtures
shear-lag model
title On the Use of Microstructure Characteristics to Predict Metal Matrix Composites’ Macroscopic Mechanical Behavior
title_full On the Use of Microstructure Characteristics to Predict Metal Matrix Composites’ Macroscopic Mechanical Behavior
title_fullStr On the Use of Microstructure Characteristics to Predict Metal Matrix Composites’ Macroscopic Mechanical Behavior
title_full_unstemmed On the Use of Microstructure Characteristics to Predict Metal Matrix Composites’ Macroscopic Mechanical Behavior
title_short On the Use of Microstructure Characteristics to Predict Metal Matrix Composites’ Macroscopic Mechanical Behavior
title_sort on the use of microstructure characteristics to predict metal matrix composites macroscopic mechanical behavior
topic metal matrix composites
AA7075 alloy
statistically similar representative volume elements
finite elements method
rule of mixtures
shear-lag model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4989
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AT avraamkonstantinidis ontheuseofmicrostructurecharacteristicstopredictmetalmatrixcompositesmacroscopicmechanicalbehavior