Simulation of stress distribution and evolution in SiC particle reinforced iron matrix composites

An Eshelby particle-compounded model was employed to investigate the stress distribution in the SiCp/Fe composites during straining in order to predict the stress-strain curves of the composites. Effect of the SiC volume content and aspect ratios on yield strength of the SiCp/Fe composites was studied by the simulation. The modeling results indicate that the stress in the iron matrix is much smaller than that in SiC particles as straining the composites, which means the strengthening mechanisms of the SiCp/Fe composites is determined by the load transfer mechanisms. The aspect ratios of the particles play a significant role in yield strength of the SiCp/Fe composites especially as the particle volume content is large. The stress in SiC particles has a stronger dependence on the aspect ratios of the particles only if the reinforcement volume content is small.