Effect of anisotropy on the ductile fracture in metal reinforcements of brittle matrix composites

Mechanisms of ductile failure in brittle matrix composites with metal reinforcements are investigated using a mechanistic approach to incorporate material anisotropy. Rapid void expansion with increasing remote strain and at nearly constant remote strain (cavitation) is modeled. Fracture energy, total energy absorbed, and cavitation limit is obtained as a function of material anisotropy. It is observed that for initial void volume fraction less than or equal to 10(-4) cavitation phenomenon is seen. The critical stress at cavitation is found to increase with decreasing void size until it reaches the cavitation limit. Further, it is observed that the ductile fracture of metal reinforcements in the brittle matrix composite is sensitive to the material anisotropy.