Micromechanical modelling of layered systems containing titanium alloy and titanium MMC subjected to bending

The mechanical behaviour of layered systems, consisting of layers of monolithic titanium alloy, (IMI834) and titanium metal matrix composite, (Ti-MMC) is examined. A finite element based micromechanical model,vas developed to investigate the mechanical response of the systems subjected to four point bending. Two types of layered systems were examined: the first designated as C type with Ti-MMC in the centre of the beam, and IMI834 on the outside, and an S type which consists of a Ti-MMC layer on the outside and IMI834 on the inside. A representative volume element (RVE) was defined and boundary conditions imposed to simulate bending of the layered systems. While the S type system exhibited higher stiffness and linear behaviour up to fracture, the C type system exhibited more ductile behaviour prior to fracture. The overall predicted behaviour of the two systems was in good agreement with experimental results, MST/4545.