Stress distribution around inclusions, interaction, and mechanical properties of particulate-filled composites

Stress analysis was carried out to determine the stress distribution around particles in particulate-filled composites. The effect of interacting stress fields was also taken into account. At large filler contents, interacting stress fields compensate for the effect of stress concentration. The solutions were introduced into the Von Mises criterion for yielding. The composition dependence of tensile yield stress was determined by using different boundary conditions and averaging techniques, An analytical expression was derived that predicts particle size and adhesion dependence of the yield stress. The analysis shows that large particles and weak interaction lead to debonding. In the case of strong adhesion, the dominating micromechanical deformation process is the shear yielding of the matrix. In such cases, particle size dependence can be explained with the effect of interfacial interactions, which lead to the formation of an interphase. The dominating deformation mechanism is determined by particle characteristics and adhesion of the components. The predictions of the analysis are in good agreement with experimental observations.