Inelastic behavior of metal-matrix composites at elevated temperature

A set of constitutive relations are given for the prediction of the overall behavior of fiber-reinforced materials, in which both matrix and fiber constituents are thermoelastic-thermoviscoplastic materials. The temperature-dependent response of the composite to a given loading is determined from the set of equations by an incremental procedure in time. The theory is applied to investigate the overall response of unidirectional graphite thermoelastic fibers reinforcing an elastic-thermoviscoplastic aluminum matrix, to thermal and mechanical loadings. The residual microstresses and microstrains which develop in the composite when it is cooled from its curing temperature, are investigated. The effect of this residual field on the overall behavior of the composite when it is subjected to various types of mechanical cyclic loadings is studied.