Finite element model of the effects of primary creep in an Al-SiC metal matrix composite

A two dimensional axisymmetric finite element model has been developed to study the creep behavior of a high-temperature aluminum alloy matrix (alloy 8009) reinforced with 11 vol pct silicon carbide particulate. Because primary creep represents a significant portion of the total creep strain for this matrix alloy, the emphasis of the present investigation is on the influence of primary creep on the high-temperature behavior of the composite. The base alloy and composite are prepared by rapid solidification processing, resulting in a very fine grain size and the absence of precipitates that may complicate modeling of the composite. Because the matrix microstructure is unaffected by the presence of the SIC particulate, this material is particularly well suited to continuum finite element modeling. Stress contours, strain contours, and creep curves are presented for the model. While the final distribution of stresses and strains is unaffected by the inclusion of primary creep, the overall creep response of the model reveals a significant primary strain transient. The effects of true primary creep are more significant than the primary-like transient introduced by the redistribution of stresses after loading. Examination of the stress contours indicates that the matrix axial and shear components become less uniform while the effective stress becomes more homogeneous as creep progresses and that the distribution of stresses do not change significantly with time after the strain rate reaches a steady state. These results also confirm that load transfer from the matrix to reinforcement occurs primarily through the shear stress. It is concluded that inclusion of matrix primary creep is essential to obtaining accurate representations of the creep response of metal matrix composites.