PREDICTION OF MATRIX PARTICLE INTERFACIAL SEPARATION IN PARTICLE-STRENGTHENED MATERIALS

Abstract

The phenomenology of local interfacial separation between elastic second-phase particles and the plastic matrix was analysed in this study, Previous analyses characterizing the interfacial stress, sigma(n) developed around particles were first assessed. Next, a modified dislocation model reflecting local microscopic matrix deformation behaviour around non-deformable particles was introduced to calculate sigma(n) and to compare with earlier continuum analysis results. The model was applied to the case of rigid carbide particles based on a critical stress criterion for interfacial debonding. Also, an attempt was made to interpret the progress of microcavity initiation at the particle interface in terms of a normal distribution function of microcavity volume density.