Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Particulate Composite Materials: Numerical Modeling of a Cross-Linked Polymer Reinforced With Alumina-Based Particles

  • Published:
Mechanics of Composite Materials Aims and scope

The macroscopic mechanical properties of a particulate composite under uniaxial tensile loading have been estimated. The composite studied consisted of a polymer matrix in a rubbery state (polymethylmethacrylate – PMMA) and alumina-based particles (Al2O3). A numerical modeling by using the finite-element method (FEM) was performed to determine the stress–strain behavior of the particulate composite. The numerical simulation took into account the hyperelastic properties of the cross-linked polymer matrix, which was described by the three-parameter Mooney–Rivlin material model. A representative volume element (RVE) was chosen for FE analyses to model the microstructure of the composite. Various compositions of particles and their different shape and orientation were considered in the study. Various directions of loading of the RVE were also investigated. A progressive damage model was implemented into the numerical models. The mechanical characteristics obtained from computations, which included the damage model, were compared with experimental data, and a good agreement has been found to exist between them. The procedure presented can be used for estimating the mechanical properties of new particulate composites with a cross-linked polymer matrix, and it also contributes to the clarification of damage development and failure in composites of the type studied.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T. lung and M. Grange, “Mechanical behaviour of two-phase materials investigated by the finite element method: necessity of three-dimensional modeling,” Mater. Sci. Engng., A201, L8-L11 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. H. P. Gänser, F. D. Fischer, and E. A. Werner, “Large strain behavior of two-phase materials with random inclusions,” Camp. Mater. Sci, 11, 221-226 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. N. Chawla, R. S. Sidhu, and V. V. Ganesh, “Three-dimensional visualization and microstructure-based modeling of deformation in particle-reinforced composites,” Acta Mater., 54, 1541-1548 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. P. R. Marur, “Estimation of effective elastic properties and interface stress concentrations in particulate composites by unit cell methods,” Acta Mater., 52, 1263-1270 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. W. Han, A. Eckschlanger, and H. J. Böhru, “The effects of three-dimensional multi-particle arrangements on the mechanical behavior and damage initiation of particle-reinforced MMCs,” Compos. Sci. Technol., 61, 1581-1590 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. X. Wang, K. Xiao, L. Ye, Y. W. Mai, C. H. Wang, and L. R. F. Rose, “Modelling of mechanical properties of core-shell rubber modified epoxies,” Acta Mater., 48, 579-586 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. X. Zeng, H. Fan, and J. Zhang, “Modelling of mechanical properties of core-shell rubber modified epoxies,” Camp. Mater. Sci, 40, 395-399 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Cho, M. S. Joshi, and C. T. Sun, “Effect of inclusion size on mechanical properties of polymeric composites with micro and nano particles,” Compos. Sci. Technol., 66, 1941-1952 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. P. Hutař, Z. Majer, L. Náhlík, L. Šestáková, and Z. Knésl, Mech. “The influence of particle size on the fracture toughness of a PP-based particle composite," Mechanics of Compos. Mater., 45, No. 3, 281-286 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. P. Hutař, L. Náhlík, Z. Majer, Z. Knésl, “The Effect of an Interphase on Micro-Crack Behaviour in Polymer Composites, Computational Modelling and Advanced Simulations," Computational Methods in Applied Sciences, I, Vol. 24, Computational Modelling and Advanced Simulations, Springer, 83-97, 2011

  11. L. Náhlík, P. Hutař, M. Dušková, K. Dušek, and B. Máša, “Numerical estimation of the macroscopic stress-strain curve of a particulate composite with crosslinked polymer matrix,” Mechanics of Composite Materials, 47, 627-634 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. J. Segurado, C. Gonzáles, and J. LLorca, “Anuruerical investigation of the effect of particle clustering on the mechanical properties of composites,” Acta Mater., 51, 2355-2369 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. D. Arencón and J. I. Velasco, “Fracture toughness of polypropylene-based particulate composites,” Materials, 2, 2046-2094 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. L. R. G. Treloar, The Physics of Rubber Elasticity, third edition Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ansys Release 12.1 Docuruentation (ANSYS, Inc. USA 2009).

Download references

Acknowledgment

This work was supported through the Specific academic research grant of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic No. FSI-J-12-21/1693 provided to Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and grant No. 106/09/H035 of Czech Science Foundation. The research was realized in CEITEC – Central European Institute of Technology, with a research infrastructure supported by the project CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0068 financed from the European Regional Development Fund.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEITEC IPM, Institute of Physics of Materials, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Žižkova 22, 616 62, Brno, Czech Republic

    B. Máša, L. Náhlík & P. Hutař

  2. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Technická 2, 616 69, Brno, Czech Republic

    B. Máša, L. Náhlík & P. Hutař

Authors
  1. B. Máša
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Náhlík
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Hutař
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Máša.

Additional information

Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 627-638 , July-August, 2013.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Máša, B., Náhlík, L. & Hutař, P. Particulate Composite Materials: Numerical Modeling of a Cross-Linked Polymer Reinforced With Alumina-Based Particles. Mech Compos Mater 49, 421–428 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-013-9358-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-013-9358-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation