Analysis of laminate metal matrix composites

This article describes an integrated micro/ macro mechanical study of the thermo-elastic-uiscoplastic behavior of unidirectional metal matrix composites. The microme-chanical analysis of the elastic moduli are based on the representative unit cell approach with comparisons also drawn with the composite cylinder assemblage model. These “ homogenization ” results are later incorporated into the vanishing fiber diameter model develop the macroscopic stress-strain relations. The finite element method is employed for the analysis in conjunction with the Bodner and Partom thermoviscoplas-tic constitutive model for the associated macroscopic analysis and a “ smeared” element approach. Comparisons are made against experimental and analytical results available in the literature whenever feasible.