Analysis of strengthening mechanism in hybrid short fiber/particle reinforced metal matrix composites

This paper presents an analytical method considering tensile strength enhancement in hybrid fiber/particle/aluminum composites(MMCs). The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the hybrid MMCs are even 20% higher than those of the fiber reinforced MMCs with same volume fraction of reinforcements. This phenomenon is explained with the cluster model which is newly proposed in this research, and the strengthening mechanisms by a cluster is analyzed using modified rule of mixtures. The present theory is then compared with experimental results which is performed using squeeze infiltrated hybrid MMCs made of hybrid Al2O3 short fiber/particle preform and AC8A alloy as base metal and the agreement is found to be satisfactory.