Integrating experimental and numerical analyses for microscale tensile behavior of ceramic particle reinforced TRIP steel composites: A study on local deformation and damage evolution

• Published in: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing Applied science and manufacturing, 2024-11, Vol.186, p.108384, Article 108384
• Main Authors: Chiu, ChenChun, Prabhakar, Vimal, Tseng, ShaoChen, Qayyum, Faisal, Guk, Sergey, Chao, ChingKong, Prahl, Ulrich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cohesive interface modeling; Damage mechanics; Metal matrix composites (MMCs); Microstructural analysis
• ISSN: 1359-835X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2024.108384

[Display omitted] •The real-time micrograph from the SEM tensile test is applied in the modeling.•The real-time boundary condition is used from the digital image correlation test.•The heterogeneous strain distribution is qualitatively comparable.•The relative error of the predicted crack length damage is only 4.6 %.•The design of particle reinforcement is significantly analyzed and suggested. This study investigates deformation, interfacial, and particle damage in a magnesium-partially stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ) particle-reinforced transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel composite using scanning electron microscope (SEM) in situ tensile tests and finite element simulations. The simulation models employ an elastic model for ceramic particles and a Johnson-Cook plastic model for the matrix, and compares the performace of perfect, cohesive zone model (CZM) and combined CZM/extended finite element method (XFEM) models at the ceramic/matrix interface. The simulation and experimental results are qualitatively and quantitatively consistent for the initiation and evolution of interfacial damage and particle failure with a relative error in crack length of only 4.6 %. Furthermore, debonding angle analysis of ceramic/matrix interface reveals that damage starts earlier in a sharp edged particle geometry. Prioritizing non-linear interfacial morphologies in particles and controlling reinforcement edges perpendicular to the loading can achieve lower and constrained debonding angles, thereby continuing to provide a strengthening effect and finally enhancing material behavior.