New Numerical Method Based on Linear Damage Evolution Law for Predicting Mechanical Properties of TiB2/6061Al

Abstract

In order to study the effect of TiB2 particles on the mechanical properties of TiB2/6061Al composites, a series of 3D TiB2/6061Al representative volume elements (RVEs) were established based on SEM photos. This model took into account the ductile damage of the matrix and the traction separation behavior of the interface, and the linear damage evolution law was introduced to characterize stiffness degradation in the matrix elements. Mixed boundary conditions were used in the RVE tensile experiments, and the accuracy of the predicted result was verified by the agreement of the experimental stress-strain curve. The results showed that the addition of TiB2 particles can effectively promote the load-bearing capacity of the composite, but elongation is reduced. When the weight fraction of TiB2 increased from 2.5% to 12.5%, the elastic modulus, yield strength, and tensile strength increased by 8%, 10.37%, and 11.55%, respectively, while the elongation decreased by 10%. The clustering rate of the TiB2 particles is also an important factor affecting the toughness of the composites. With an increase in the clustering rate of TiB2 particles from 20% to 80%, the load-bearing capacity of the composites did not improve, and the elongation of the composites was reduced by 8%. Moreover, the high-strain region provides a path for rapid crack propagation, and particle spacing is a crucial factor that affects the stress field.