A damage model for void configuration and failure under different constrained deformation region in ductile matrix

Metal matrix composites (MMC) achieve high yield stress, high strength and high stiffness by mixing stiff reinforcement SiC particles/whiskers into the aluminum alloy. The density of this composite material decreases with increasing volume of SiC particle/whiskers. For these advantages, this material is attracting attention for potential applications. However, the use of this material is limited by its low fracture toughness and ductility. For its improvement, both experimental and computational studies have been conducted by many authors [1]similar to [10]. In this study, the constraint effects of SiC particle volume fractions and the specimen geometry are analyzed by conducting tensile tests with changing the SiC particle volume fraction as 0%, 2% and 10% and tensile specimen notch radius as 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 mm. The smooth specimen was also tested for BC particle reinforced 2025 aluminum alloy composites. The effect of constraint on the void configuration and coalescence are investigated experimentally using the 3-dimensional SEM fracture surface observations and 3-dimensional image analysis. The average and local void volume fraction at fracture is measured using 3-dimensional image analysis technique and the new modified Gurson model is proposed.