Integrated micro/macro thermo-elastic-viscoplastic analysis of laminate metal matrix composites

This article describes an integrated micro/macro mechanical study of the thermoelastic-viscoplastic behavior of unidirectional metal matrix composites. The micromechanical analysis of the elastic moduli are based on the representative unit cell approach with comparisons also drawn with the composite cylinder assemblage model. These "homogenization" results are later incorporated into the vanishing fiber diameter model develop the macroscopic stress-strain relations. The finite element method is employed for the analysis in conjunction with the Bodner and Partom thermoviscoplastic constitutive model for the associated macroscopic analysis and a "smeared" element approach. Comparisons are made against experimental and analytical results available in the literature whenever feasible.