An Eshelby inclusion based model for the study of stresses and plastic strain localization in metal matrix composites II. Fiber reinforcement and lamellar inclusions

The extended Eshelby model developed in Part I of the current paper is applied to inclusions with different aspect ratios and the localization of plastic strain is calculated. Its influence on concentration factors is studied for a variety of field variables. The inclusions are considered linear elastic and plastically rigid while the matrix flows when it reaches an isotropic yield stress. Matrix plastic relaxation is found to be a mechanism for composite strengthening by stress homogenization. Fiber-like inclusions provoke the highest reduction of concentration factors with no reduction of its reinforcing ability by a load transferring mechanism. The development of hydrostatic stresses is studied both before and after plastic relaxation of the matrix. New insights are obtained to explain the macroscopic behavior of metal matrix composites and its dependence on inclusion geometry.