Aluminum Matrix Composites with Weak Particle Matrix Interfaces: Effective Elastic Properties Investigated Using Micromechanical Modeling

The impact of weak particle-matrix interfaces in aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) on effective elastic properties was studied using micromechanical finite-element analysis. Both simplified unit cell representations (i.e., representative area or volume elements) and “real” microstructure-based unit cells were considered. It is demonstrated that a 2D unit cell representation provides accurate effective properties only for strong particle-matrix bond conditions, and underpredicts the effective properties (compared to 3D unit cell computations) for weak interfaces. The computations based on real microstructure of an Al–TiB2 composite fabricated using spark plasma sintering (SPS) show that, for weak interfaces, the effective elastic properties under tension are different from those obtained under compression. Computations show that differences are the result of the local stress and strain fields, and contact mechanics between particles and the matrix. Preliminary measurements of the effective elastic properties using the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique and compression experiments support the trends observed in computational analysis.

Micromechanical analysis of effective mechanical properties of graphene/ZrO2-hybrid poly (methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites

In this study, the tensile properties of two-phase and three-phase graphene/ZrO2-hybrid poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites are investigated by developing finite element model using ANSYS. Primarily, the effective elastic properties of two- and three-phase graphene/ZrO2-hybrid PMMA nanocomposites (GRPCs) are estimated by developing mechanics of material (MOM) model. Results indicated that the effective elastic properties of GRPCs increase with an increase in the volume fraction of graphene. Also, the stiffness of GRPCs is increased by 78.12% with increasing in the volume fraction of graphene from 0.1 to 0.5 Vf. The incorporation of an additional ZrO2 interphase significantly improved the mechanical performance of resulting GRPCs.

3D finite-element modeling of effective elastic properties for fracture density and multiscale natural fractures

Natural fractures are usually multiscale in size, orientations and distribution, resulting in complex anisotropic characteristics. Analytical methods for quantifying the associated effective elastic properties are based on some assumptions, such as dilute fracture concentration and regular-shaped fractures, which do not occur in actual reservoirs. Here, we conduct anisotropic finite-element modeling of effective elastic properties of complex fractured rocks using the least-square fitting method. The algorithm is developed for a 3D case and validated by classical effective medium theories for models with different fracture densities. The results of the 3D numerical method agree well with the theoretical predictions at low fracture density. The model also considers the interactions among fractures to calculate equivalent stiffness tensors at high fracture density. Three 2D fracture models are simulated to demonstrate the basic behavior of stress interactions and their effect on the overall elasticity under different fracture densities. We applied the developed model to 3D natural fractures built from a real outcrop, and we found that the fracturing pattern significantly affects the effective anisotropy properties. The resultant P-wave phase velocities as functions of the incidence angle and frequency are anisotropic. This study provides a great potential to calculate equivalent stiffness tensors and anisotropic properties of 3D multiscale natural fractures.