Numerical analysis of the transverse strengthening behavior of fiber-reinforced metal matrix composites

The transverse strengthening behavior of fiber-reinforced metal matrix composites is numerically investigated on the basis of micromechanics analysis. Periodic boundary condition is developed and employed in calculations for considering arbitrary loading directions without changing the configuration of the unit cell. The symmetric boundary condition will be naturally attained if the loading is along the symmetric directions of the unit cell if any. Effects of the volume fraction and several more general fiber arrangements on the transverse strengthening of composites are discussed in detail, including single and/or multi-fibers simulations, from which the maps of the strengthening responses in various directions of the composites are obtained. It is concluded that the effect of fiber volume fraction is significantly different in various directions, the maximum strengthening of composites does not always occur in 0° and/or 90° directions whereas the minimum strengthening is always in 45° direction, and the strengthening of composites has a period of 90° which are independent of fiber arrangements.