Simulation of deformation and fracture of metal-matrix composites with consideration of residual stresses.

The work represents investigation of cracking the ceramic particle under the plane stress and plane strain deformation of the metal matrix composite at microscale (scale of an individual particle), with the experimentally observed shape of the reinforcing particle being considered. The boundary-value problems are solved numerically by the finite element method using ABAQUS/Explicit software package. The composite material is under both tensile and compressive loads. The influence of residual stresses arising during manufacturing cooling on the stress concentration in the region of the matrix-particle interface and crack initiation and growth is studied under subsequent mechanical loading of the composite material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]