On the effect of stiffness/softness and morphology of interphase phase on the effective elastic properties of three-phase composite material

In the present study, Composite material consisting of an elastic homogeneous isotropic matrix in which are embedded coated elastic isotropic inclusions, widely used in many applications is investigated by a homogenization approach coupled to the finite element method. A finite element model is proposed to predict the Young's and shear modulus of the three-phase composite containing spherical inclusions surrounded by a spherical or ellipsoid interphase layer. Three cases of particle volume fractions and interphase were considered with the addition of two interphase morphologies. Young's modulus of the interphase region was varied from soft to hard than the matrix properties. We note the interphase morphology and properties play an important role in the elastic properties of composite with increasing the volume fraction of inclusions and interphase. The results were compared to the first-order bounds Voigt and Reuss, and the mean-field homogenization techniques. A sensitive study of the effect of mesh density on the results of the von Mises stresses and elastic properties has been made.