Indentation behavior of metal matrix composites reinforced with arbitrary shape particle using a coupled FE-EFG approach.

The effect of particle volume fraction, size, and shape on the indentation behavior of particulate composites is investigated using coupled FE-EFG approach. A systematic approach is presented where the particles are modeled only in a small region under the indenter and the homogenized properties are assigned to the remaining region. Equivalent properties are determined using RVE analysis. Von-Mises criterion along-with updated Lagrangian approach is employed to capture elastoplastic large deformation behavior. Node-to-segment contact algorithm is adopted to model the contact behavior between indenter and matrix. Results in-terms of residual von-Mises stress, equivalent plastic strain, and deformed surface profile are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]