A gravitational approach to modeling the representative volume geometry of particle-reinforced metal matrix composites

摘要

Computational models of representative volumes of metal matrix composites are crucial for investigating material behavior on the microscale. Numerical simulations often employ finite element models of representative volumes. Such models are based on observations of material microstructural properties, for example, by means of electron microscopy. Constructing a geometrical model of a representative volume for further computations can be a tedious task. This paper presents a new approach to creating geometrical models of this kind. The approach is based on the simulation of rigid body motion in a gravitational field and allows one to automatically generate geometrical models of representative volumes. The approach capabilities are exemplified by two geometrical models of representative volume. One model describes a metal matrix composite with high volume fraction of prismatic reinforcement particles, produced by liquid metal infiltration. The other model describes a metal matrix composite with high volume fraction of metal pellets, produced by powder metallurgy.