On the homogenization of metal matrix composites using strain gradient plasticity

The homogenized response of metal matrix composites（MMC） is studied using strain gradient plasticity.The material model employed is a rate independent formulation of energetic strain gradient plasticity at the micro scale and conventional rate independent plasticity at the macro scale. Free energy inside the micro structure is included due to the elastic strains and plastic strain gradients. A unit cell containing a circular elastic fiber is analyzed under macroscopic simple shear in addition to transverse and longitudinal loading. The analyses are carried out under generalized plane strain condition. Micro-macro homogenization is performed observing the Hill-Mandel energy condition,and overall loading is considered such that the homogenized higher order terms vanish. The results highlight the intrinsic size-effects as well as the effect of fiber volume fraction on the overall response curves, plastic strain distributions and homogenized yield surfaces under different loading conditions. It is concluded that composites with smaller reinforcement size have larger initial yield surfaces and furthermore,they exhibit more kinematic hardening.

STUDIES ON POLY(ETHYLENE TEREPHTHA LATE)-POLY(TETRAMETHYLENE ETHER) MULTIBLOCK COPOLYMER.Ⅰ.COMPOSITIONAL HOMOGENEITY

The compositional homogeneity of a poly (ethylene terephthalate)-poly (tetramethylene ether) multiblock copolymer sample with low content of hard segment was examined by GPC, TLC, and solubility method. The copolymer sample was found to have a uniform composition as a function of elution volume over the major portion of sample from GPC method. However within one elution fraction, the copolymer chains, although having the same hydrodynamic volume, may have some difference in composition. Two fractions with different composition were obtained by precipitation in ethanol. Some low molar mass copolymers were also separated by a TLC technique from the copolymer sample.

Bulk single crystal growth of SiGe by PMCZ method

A new type of magnetic device was used to replace the conventionalelectro-magnetic field for CZSi (doped with Ge) growth. The device was composed of three permanentmagnetic rings and called PMCZ device. The lines of magnetic force are horizontally distributed atradial 360℃. Using the ring permanent magnetic field, thermal convection in melt and centrifugalpumping flows due to crystal rotation could be strongly suppressed so that the fluctuations oftemperature and micro-growth rate at solid/liquid interface could be restrained effectively. In thePMCZ condition, the growing environment of SiGe bulk single crystal was similar to the crystalgrowth in space under the condition of micro-gravity. The motion of impurities (Ge, oxygen, etc.)had been controlled by diffusion near the solid/liquid interface. Oxygen concentration became lowerand the distribution of composition became more homogeneous along longitudinal direction and acrossa radial section in the grown SiGe crystal. The mechanism of PMCZ superior to MCZ was alsodiscussed.

Segregation behavior and its regulating process in as-cast magnesium alloy containing heavy rare earth

Specific gravity segregation that occurs during the smelting process always leads to the low composition homogeneity and poor performance stability of the magnesium-rare earth(Mg-RE)alloys.In this study,the segregation behavior of Mg-Gd alloy was investigated by sampling from different locations in the ingot fabricated in a resistance furnace without a pouring process.The combined application of induction-heating and mechanical stirring with various speeds(0-130 r/min)was applied to promote the distribution homogeneity of Gd atoms.In the resistance-heating fabricated ingot,Gd content at the bottom section reaches 407%of that at the top.The coarse dendrites surrounded by the network-like eutectic structures are responsible for the brittle fracture with a poor elongation of 3.7%.By the combined employment of the induction heating and mechanical stirring with the speed of 87 r/min at 740℃for 40 s,the variation of the Gd content within the whole ingot can be reduced to be the minimum of 0.23 wt%.Corresponding formation and regulating models of segregation were also proposed.However,the cooling rate of the melt is reduced by the continuous increase of the stirring speed to 130 r/min,which results in the grain coarsening and lower homogeneity of the ingot.

Dynamic mechanical characterization and optimization of particle-reinforced W-Ni-Fe composites

A visco-plastic rate-dependent homogenization theory for particle-reinforced composites was derived and the equivalent elastic constants and the equivalent visco-plastic parameters of these composites were obtained. A framework of homogenization the- ory for particle-reinforced W-Ni-Fe composites, a kind of tungsten alloy, was established. Based on the homogenization theory and a fixed-point iteration method, a unit cell model with typical microstructnres of the composite was established by using dynamic analysis program. The effects of tungsten content, tungsten particle shape and particle size and interface strength on the mechanical properties and the crack propagation of the W-Ni-Fe composite are analyzed under quasi-static and dynamic loadings. The stress-strain curves of the composite are given and the relation between the macro-mechanical characteristics and the microstructure parameters is explored, which provides an important theoretical basis for the optimization of the W-Ni-Fe composites.