AN INCREMENTAL PLASTIC ANALYSIS OF MULTIPHASE MATERIALS

The determination of the elastoplastic behavior of multiphase materials such as metallic alloys or steels during phase transformation is a complex problem. This incremental method is aimed at applications for composites having several phases each with different plastic behaviors and also materials undergoing phase transformation. We assume the decomposition of all strain, in the inclusion as well as in the matrix, into elastic and plastic components. Relations between various incremental stresses and strains are established through the use of the elastic moduli of the matrix and inclusions. The elastic components of the incremental stress-free strain and perturbed strain are related by an effective tangent tensor. A sample calculation was performed for a composite of epoxy matrix reinforced by silica particles. Comparisons made with experimental results existing in the literature show reasonable agreements. © 1990 by ASME.