| The results of an extensive mechanical testing and micromechanical modeling effort for 8-harness (8H) satin carbon/copper (C/Cu) composites are presented. The micromechanics model developed for woven metal matrix composites is based on an embedded approach. A micromechanics model for the local (micro-scale) behavior of the woven composite, the original method of cells (Aboudi, 1987), is embedded in a global (macro-scale) micromechanics model (the three-dimensional generalized method of cells (GMC-3D) (Aboudi, 1994)). This approach allows representation of true repeating unit cells for woven composites via GMC-3D. Representation of local effects, on the level of the individual fibers and matrix within the infiltrated fiber yarns, such as matrix plasticity, yarn porosity, and imperfect fiber-matrix bonding is accomplished via the original method of cells. The resulting woven composites generalized method of cells (WCGMC) model provides a level of realistic geometric representation, versatility, and computational efficiency not realized by previous analytical and numerical models for woven composites.; WCGMC has been employed, in conjunction with a wide range of mechanical tests, to characterize the mechanical response of 8H satin C/Cu composites. 8H satin C/Cu is a novel woven metal matrix composite for thermal management applications. Small amounts of chromium and titanium were added to the Cu matrix to improve fiber-matrix bonding which has been problematic in C/Cu composites. The model was used to examine several factors which affect the predicted response of the composite, and to simulate the experimental tensile, compressive, and shear tests performed on the composite. Acceptable quantitative agreement between model predictions and experimental results was achieved. In addition, the qualitative trends based on fiber-matrix bonding in the different matrix alloy type composites were predicted correctly by the model for simulated tensile, compressive, and shear loading. |
