Comparison between the experimental and theoretical tensile behaviour of aluminium-based metal matrix composites reinforced with preforms of alpha-alumina platelets

In this article, the tensile behaviour of an aluminium matrix composite reinforced with new preforms of ct-alumina platelets was studied both from an experimental and a theoretical point of view. The investigated composite characterized by a well-defined microstructure allowed us to establish a comparison between the experimental and theoretical evolutions and to check the ability of Eshelby-type theoretical models to assess the tensile properties of a particulate metal matrix composite. The analysis of the tensile properties was focused on the interpretation of Young's modulus and on the 0.2% proof stress of the composite, considering successively the effect of the variable parameters of the reinforcement on these two tensile characteristics. Young's moduli were assessed by an iterative Eshelby method developed in our laboratory and likely to take into account all the parameters defining the microstructure of the investigated composite; 0.2% proof stresses were analyzed by a hybrid model based both on dislocation mechanics and on the iterative Eshelby method.