An Interfacial Debonding Model for Particle-Reinforced Composites

Abstract

To simulate the evolution process of interfacial debonding between the matrix and reinforcing particles, and to further estimate its effect on the overall elastic behavior of particle-reinforced composites, a two-level microstructuraleffective damage framework is proposed. The progressive damage process is represented by the debonding angles that are governed by external loads. The debonded yet isotropic particles are replaced by the perfectly bonded yet orthotropic particles in terms of the elastic equivalency. The evolution of volume fraction of debonded particles is characterized by the Weibull’s statistical approach. Micromechanical homogenization procedures are utilized to estimate the effective stiffness tensors of the resultant multiphase composites under general three-dimensional loading. Numerical examples are implemented to demonstrate the capability of the proposed model.