A three-dimensional micromechanics-based analytical model is developed to investigate the influence of interphase on the thermo-mechanical properties of three-phase composites. The representative volume element (RVE) of composites is extended to c × r × h cells in three dimensions and the RVE consists of three phases including filler, matrix and interphase. The arrangement state of filler within the matrix materials is assumed to be random with uniform distribution. Fillers are surrounded by the interphase in the whole composite. The effects of interphase such as its thickness and stiffness on the thermo-mechanical properties of composite with various aspect ratios of filler are studied. The results illustrate that while the effects of interphase is significant for composites with randomly distributed spherical particles, it turns to be less effective as the aspect ratio of filler of composite increases. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the effect of interphase on the thermo-mechanical properties of fibrous composites in the transverse direction is more significant than that of fiber composites in the longitudinal direction.
MoriTTanakaK. Average stress in matrix and average elastic energy of materials with misfitting inclusions. Acta Metal1973; 21: 571–574.
2.
ChouTWNomuraSTayaM. A self-consistent approach to the elastic stiffness of short-fiber composites. J Compos Mater1980; 14: 178–188.
3.
SunCTVaidyaRS. Prediction of composite properties from a representative volume element. Compos Sci Tech1996; 56: 171–179.
4.
BergerHKariSGabbertU. An analytical and numerical approach for calculating effective material coefficients of piezoelectric fiber composites. Int J Solids Struct2005; 42: 5692–5714.
5.
SubramanianSReifsniderKLStinchcombWW. A micromechanics model for the prediction of static strength of off-axis unidirectional laminates. Appl Compos Mater1994; 1: 75–79.
6.
HalpinJCTsaiSW. Stiffness and expansion estimates for oriented short fiber composites. J Compos Mater1969; 3: 732–734.
7.
NimmerRPBankertRJRussellES. Micromechanical modeling of fiber/matrix interface effects in transversely loaded SiC/Ti-6-4 metal matrix composite. J Compos Tech Res1991; 13: 3–13.
8.
AdamsDF. Inelastic analysis of a unidirectional composite subjected to transverse normal loading. J Compos Mater1970; 4: 310–328.
9.
BenvenisteY. A new approach to the application of Mori Tanaka’s theory in composite materials. Mech Mat1987; 6: 147–157.
10.
Haj-AliRAboudiJ. Nonlinear micromechanical formulation of the high fidelity generalized method of cells. Int J Solid Struct2009; 46: 2577–2592.
11.
BergerHKariSGabbertU. Unit cell models of piezoelectric fiber composites for numerical and analytical calculation of effective properties. J Smart Mater Struct2006; 15: 451–458.
12.
SelmiADoghriIAdamL. Micromechanical simulations of biaxial yield, hardening and plastic flow in short glass fiber reinforced polyamide. Int J Mech Sci2011; 53: 696–706.
13.
BӧhmHJEckschlagerAHanW. Multi-inclusion unit cell models for metal matrix composites with randomly oriented discontinuous reinforcements. Comput Mater Sci2002; 25: 42–53.
14.
ZairiFNait-AbdelazizMGloaguenJM. Micromechanical modelling and simulation of chopped random fiber reinforced polymer composites with progressive debonding damage. Int J Solids Struct2008; 45: 5220–5236.
15.
MortazaviBBaniassadiMBardonJ. Modeling of two-phase random composite materials by finite element, Mori–Tanaka and strong contrast methods. Compos Part B2013; 45: 1117–1125.
16.
BayatMAghdamMM. A micromechanics-based analysis of effects of square and hexagonal fiber arrays in fibrous composites using DQEM. Eur J Mech A/Solids2012; 32: 32–40.
17.
AboudiJBenvennisteY. An average theory for the dynamic behavior of a laminated elastic-viscoplastic medium under general loading. Int J Solid Struct1981; 17: 69–81.
18.
MortazaviBBardonJAhziS. Interphase effect on the elastic and thermal conductivity response of polymer nanocomposite materials: 3D finite element study. Comput Mater Sci2013; 69: 100–106.
19.
AboudiJ. Micromechanical analysis of composites by the method of cells. J Appl Mech1989; 42: 193–221.
20.
AghdamMMSmithDJPavierMJ. Finite element micromechanical modelling of yield and collapse behaviour of metal matrix composites. J Mech Phys Solid2000; 48: 499–528.
21.
MahmoodiMJAghdamMMShakeriM. The effects of interfacial debonding on the elastoplastic response of unidirectional silicon carbide–titanium composites. Part C: J Mech Eng Sci2010; 223: 259–269.
22.
KariSBergerHGabbertU. Evaluation of influence of interphase material parameters on effective material properties of three phase composites. Compos Sci Tech2008; 68: 684–691.
23.
PaganoNJTandonGP. Thermo-elastic model for multidirectional coated-fiber composites: traction formulation. Compos Sci Tech1990; 38: 247–269.
FangGLiangJWangB. Effect of interface properties on mechanical behavior of 3d four-directional braided composites with large braid angle subjected to uniaxial tension. Appl Compos Mater2011; 18: 449–465.
26.
YehJR. The effect of interphase on the transverse properties of composites. Int J Solid Struct1992; 29: 2493–2502.
27.
NieSBasaranC. A micromechanical model for effective elastic properties of particulate composites with imperfect interfacial bonds. Int J Solids Struct2005; 42: 4179–4191.
28.
AghdamMMGorjiMFalahatgarSR. Interface damage of SiC/Ti metal matrix composites subjected to combined thermal and axial shear loading. Comput Mater Sci2009; 46: 626–631.
29.
AchenbachJDZhuH. Effect of interphases on micro and macromechanical behavior of hexagonal-array fiber composites. J Appl Mech1990; 57: 956–963.
30.
DasguptaABhandarkarSM. A generalized self-consistent Mori-Tanaka scheme for fiber-composites with multiple interphases. Mech Mater1994; 29: 1141–1157.
31.
GuinovartDRRodriguezRRCastilleroBJ. Closed-form thermoelastic moduli of a periodic three phase fiber reinforced composite. J Therm Stress2005; 28: 1067–1093.
32.
LagacheMAgbossouAPastorJ. Role of interphase on elastic behavior of composite materials: theoretical and experimental analysis. J Compos Mater1994; 28: 1141–1157.
33.
LiuYJXuNLuoJF. Modeling of interphases in fiber-reinforced composites under transverse loading using boundary element method. J Appl Mech2000; 67: 41–49.
34.
YaoYChenSChenP. The effect of a graded interphase on the mechanism of stress transfer in a fiber-reinforced composite. Mech Mater2013; 58: 35–54.
35.
MahmoodiMJAghdamMM. Damage analysis of fiber reinforced Ti-alloy subjected to multi-axial loading- A micromechanical approach. Mater Sci Eng A2011; 528: 7983–7990.
36.
MahmoodiMJAghdamMMShakeriM. Micromechanical modeling of interface damage of metal matrix composites subjected to off-axis loading. Mat Des2010; 31: 829–836.
37.
AboudiJ. The effective moduli of short-fiber composites. Int J Solids Struct1983; 19: 693–707.
38.
Pahr DH and Arnold SM. The applicability of the generalized method of cells for analyzing discontinuously reinforced composites. Compos B 2002; 33: 153–170.
39.
KimJSMulianaAH. A combined viscoelastic–viscoplastic behavior of particle reinforced composites. Int J Solids Struct2010; 47: 580–594.
40.
RobertsonDDMallS. Fiber–matrix interface effects upon transverse behavior in metal matrix composites. J Compos Technol Res1992; 14: 3–11.
41.
BenvenisteYDvorakGJChenT. Stress fields in composites with coated inclusions. Mech Mater1989; 7: 305–317.
