Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Size, Content and Shape of Reinforcements on the Behavior of Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) Under Tension

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the mechanical behavior of metal matrix composites (MMCs) 6061 aluminum, reinforced with silicon carbide particles, under unidirectional tensile loading by finite element analysis. The effects of particle’s shape, size and content on the tensile properties of the composites were studied and compared with each other. In addition, stress and strain distributions and possible particle fracture or debonding were investigated. It was found that, among different shapes, a certain shape of reinforcement particle provided better tensile properties for MMCs and, within each shape category, composites with smaller particle size and higher particle content (20%) also showed better properties. It was also found that when the reinforcement content was 10%, the effects of shape and size of the particles were negligible. Not only interfacial length between the reinforcement and matrix materials, but also state of matrix material, due to the presence of the reinforcement particles, affected the stiffness of the MMCs. In almost all of the cases, except for MMCs with triangular particles, when the stress increased, with the increase in the applied positive displacement, the stress distributions remained unchanged.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. H. Huang and M. Bush, Finite element analysis of mechanical properties in discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composites with ultrafine micro structure, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 1997, 232(1), p 63–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Rahimian, N. Parvin, and N. Ehsani, Investigation of particle size and amount of alumina on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al matrix composite made by powder metallurgy, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2010, 527(4), p 1031–1038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. S.B. Prabu, L. Karunamoorthy, and G. Kandasami, A finite element analysis study of micromechanical interfacial characteristics of metal matrix composites, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2004, 153, p 992–997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Y. Yan, L. Geng, and A. Li, Experimental and numerical studies of the effect of particle size on the deformation behavior of the metal matrix composites, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2007, 448(1), p 315–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. V.K. Varma, S.V. Kamat, Y.R. Mahajan, and V.V. Kutumbarao, Effect of reinforcement size on low strain yielding behaviour in Al-Cu-Mg/SiCp composites, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2001, 318(1–2), p 57–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Z. Wang, M. Song, C. Sun, and Y. He, Effects of particle size and distribution on the mechanical properties of SiC reinforced Al-Cu alloy composites, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2011, 528(3), p 1131–1137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. N. Chawla, C. Andres, J.W. Jones, and J.E. Allison, Effect of SiC volume fraction and particle size on the fatigue resistance of a 2080 Al/SiCp composite, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 1998, 29(11), p 2843–2854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J.N. Hall, J. Wayne Jones, and A.K. Sachdev, Particle size, volume fraction and matrix strength effects on fatigue behavior and particle fracture in 2124 aluminum-SiCp composites, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 1994, 183(1–2), p 69–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. V.V. Ganesh and N. Chawla, Effect of reinforcement-particle-orientation anisotropy on the tensile and fatigue behavior of metal-matrix composites, Metall. Mater. Trans. A Phys. Metall Mater. Sci., 2004, 35(1), p 53–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. G. O’Donnell and L. Looney, Production of aluminium matrix composite components using conventional PM technology, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2001, 303(1–2), p 292–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. R. Narayanasamy, T. Ramesh, and M. Prabhakar, Effect of particle size of SiC in aluminium matrix on workability and strain hardening behaviour of P/M composite, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2009, 504(1–2), p 13–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. A. Pramanik, L. Zhang, and J. Arsecularatne, An FEM investigation into the behavior of metal matrix composites: tool–particle interaction during orthogonal cutting, Int. J. Mach. Tools Manuf., 2007, 47(10), p 1497–1506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. A. Pramanik, L. Zhang, and J. Arsecularatne, Micro-indentation of metal matrix composites—an FEM analysis, Key Eng. Mater., 2007, 340, p 341

    Google Scholar 

  14. M.T. Milan and P. Bowen, Tensile and fracture toughness properties of SiCp reinforced Al alloys: effects of particle size, particle volume fraction, and matrix strength, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 2004, 13(6), p 775–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. A. Pramanik, L. Zhang, and J. Arsecularatne, Deformation mechanisms of MMCs under indentation, Compos. Sci. Technol., 2008, 68(6), p 1304–1312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. A.M. Al-Qutub, I.M. Allam, and T.W. Qureshi, Effect of sub-micron Al2O3 concentration on dry wear properties of 6061 aluminum based composite, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2006, 172(3), p 327–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. N. Chawla and Y.L. Shen, Mechanical behavior of particle reinforced metal matrix composites, Adv. Eng. Mater., 2001, 3(6), p 357–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. C. Sun, M. Song, Z. Wang, and Y. He, Effect of particle size on the microstructures and mechanical properties of SiC-reinforced pure aluminum composites, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 2011, 20(9), p 1606–1612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. C.-Y. Chen and C.-G. Chao, Effect of particle-size distribution on the properties of high-volume-fraction SiC p-Al-based composites, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2000, 31(9), p 2351–2359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. R. Jamaati, S. Amirkhanlou, M.R. Toroghinejad, and B. Niroumand, Effect of particle size on microstructure and mechanical properties of composites produced by ARB process, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2011, 528(4), p 2143–2148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. M. Kok, Production and mechanical properties of Al2O3 particle-reinforced 2024 aluminium alloy composites, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2005, 161(3), p 381–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. T.J.A. Doel and P. Bowen, Tensile properties of particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites, Compos. A Appl. Sci. Manuf., 1996, 27(8), p 655–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. I.A. Ibrahim, F.A. Mohamed, and E.J. Lavernia, Particulate reinforced metal matrix composites—a review, J. Mater. Sci., 1991, 26(5), p 1137–1156

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia

    A. Paknia & A. Pramanik

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826004, India

    A. R. Dixit & S. Chattopadhyaya

Authors
  1. A. Paknia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Pramanik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. R. Dixit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Chattopadhyaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Pramanik.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Paknia, A., Pramanik, A., Dixit, A.R. et al. Effect of Size, Content and Shape of Reinforcements on the Behavior of Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) Under Tension. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 25, 4444–4459 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2307-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2307-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation