An elastic–plastic stress analysis of simply supported metal-matrix composite beams under a transverse uniformly distributed load

Abstract An analytical elastic–plastic stress analysis is carried out on metal-matrix composite beams of arbitrary orientation, supported from two ends under a transverse uniformly distributed load. The composite layer consists of stainless steel fiber and aluminum matrix. The material is assumed to be perfectly plastic during the elastic–plastic solution. The intensity of the uniform force is chosen at a small value; therefore, the normal stress component σy is neglected in the elastic–plastic solution. The expansion of the plastic region and the residual stress component of σx are determined for orientation angles of 0, 30, 45, 60 and 90°. Plastic yielding occurs for 0° and 90° orientation angles on the lower and upper surfaces of the beam at the same distances from the mid-point. However, it starts first at the lower surface for 30, 45 and 60° orientation angles. The intensity of the residual stress component of σx is found to be maximum at the lower and upper surfaces; however, the intensity of the residual stress component of τxy is a maximum on or around the x axis of the beam.