The stress/strain behavior of aluminum matrix composites with discontinuous reinforcements

The flow properties of a ductile Al alloy reinforced with SiC particulates and randomly oriented platelets have been investigated to establish trends with such variables as reinforcement volume fraction, size and aspect ratio. The experimental results are compared with the trends predicted by recent continuum calculations. The general agreement found between experiments and the calculations has established the following characteristic features of the flow strength. This strength is strongly influenced by reinforcement volume fraction f{hook}, especially when f{hook} is large (f{hook} > 0.3). Particulates and non-aligned platelets having aspect ratio 10:1 exhibit about the same strengthening.