Inelastic response of a woven carbon/copper composite - Part III: Model-experiment correlation

This paper compares the predictions of a new micromechanics model for woven metal matrix composites with experimental results for 8-harness (8H) satin carbon/copper (C/Cu). Experimental results for this advanced woven metal matrix composite were presented in Part I of this paper (Bednarcyk and Pindera, 1999), while Part II discussed the development of the micromechanics model (Bednarcyk and Pindera, 2000). The experiments included monotonic, cyclic, and combined tension, compression, and Iosipescu shear tests. The micromechanics model is based on an embedded approach in which Aboudi's (1987) two-dimensional method of cells (MOC) is embedded within a reformulated version of Aboudi's (1995) three-dimensional generalized methods of cells (GMC-3D). In order to obtain accurate and realistic predictions, the model accounts for the effects of porosity, residual stresses, imperfect fiber/matrix bonding, and grip constraints. These effects, and the selection of the parameters, which characterize these effects, are discussed. By judiciously selecting the parameters, good qualitative and reasonable quantitative correlation is obtained between the model predictions and experiment. In particular, the unexpected trend based on matrix alloy type observed in the experimental tensile data has been correctly predicted.