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This study presents a computational investigation of tensile behavior and, in particular, necking due to material inhomogeniety of cardiovascular stent struts under conditions of tensile loading. Polycrystalline strut microstructures are modelled using crystal plasticity theory. Two different idealized morphologies are considered for three-dimensional models, with cylindrical grains and with rhombic-dodecahedron grains. Results are compared to two-dimensional models with hexagonal grains. For all cases, it is found that necking initiates at a significantly higher strain than that at UTS (ultimate tensile stress). Two-dimensional models are shown to exhibit an unrealistically high dependence of necking strain on randomly generated grain orientations. Three-dimensional models with cylindrical grains yield a significantly higher necking strain than models with rhombic-dodecahedron grains. It is shown that necking is characterized by a dramatic increase in stress triaxiality at the center of the neck. Finally; the ratios of UTS to necking stress computed in this study are found to compare well to values predicted by existing bifurcation models. [DOI: 10.1115/1.2722776]

Matrix cracking in ceramic matrix composites with fine grained fibers at high temperatures will be governed by fiber creep, as relaxation of the fibers eliminates crack tip shielding. Using a time dependent bridging law that describes the effect of creeping fibers bridging a crack in an elastic matrix, crack growth initiation and history have been modeled. For a stationary crack, crack tip stress intensity factors as a function of time are presented to predict incubation times before subcritical crack growth. Two crack growth studies are reviewed: a constant velocity approximation for small-scale bridging, and a complete velocity history analysis which can be used to predict crack length as a function of time. The predictions are summarized and discussed in terms of identifying various regimes of crack growth initiation, subcritical growth, and catastrophic matrix cracking.

This article reviews micromechanical models developed for fatigue cracking in fiber-reinforced metal matrix composites under mechanical and thermal loads. Emphasis is placed on the formulae and design charts that can quantify the fatigue crack growth and fiber fracture. The composite is taken to be linear elastic, with unidirectional aligned fibers. Interfacial debonding is assumed to occur readily, allowing fibers to slide relative to the matrix resisted by a uniform shear stress. The fibers therefore bridge any matrix crack that develops. The crack bridging traction law includes the effect of thermal expansion mismatch between the fiber and the matrix and a temperature dependence of the frictional shear stress. Predictions are made of the crack tip stress intensities, matrix fatigue crack growth, and maximum fiber stresses under mechanical or thermomechanical loads. For composites under thermomechanical load, both in-phase and out-of-phase fatigue are modeled. The implications for life prediction for fiber-reinforced metal matrix composites are discussed.

Finite element cell computations are used to describe a constitutive law for the power-law creep of a material having spherical voids. The constitutive law was found to be in good agreement with unit cell results. The law was found to be accurate in determining the ratio of tranverse to axial strain rate in uniaxial compression. However, it also inaccurately estimates the absolute rate of creep due to uncertainties of the material state.