Micromechanics analysis on the microscopic damage mechanism and mechanical behavior of graphite fiber-reinforced aluminum composites under transverse tension loading

Abstract In this paper, the transverse tensile behavior and microscopic damage evolution of graphite fiber-reinforced aluminum composites were investigated by numerical and experimental methods. Micromechanical models based on realistic and assumptive fiber arrangements were established. In these models, the progressive damage procedure of the matrix alloy and the interface was incorporated. The validity of the models was assessed by comparing the predicted stress-strain curves with the experimental ones. The microscopic damage behavior of the matrix alloy and the interface was revealed and its contributions to macroscopic mechanical responses were analyzed in detail. The interaction of different damage mechanisms was further discussed on the basis of numerical and experimental results. The influences of interface, matrix alloy, and fiber volume fraction on damage evolution and mechanical behaviors were parametrically studied on the basis of the verified micromechanical model to provide insights into the damage mechanisms of the composites.