Comprehensive Analysis of Elastic-Plastic Behaviour in Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites with Varied Reinforcement Geometry

Abstract This study presents a comprehensive analytical-numerical approach to determining the elastic-plastic properties of Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites (HMMC), contrasting with prior research that primarily emphasizes elasticity. Using the finite element method (FEM) and elasticity and plasticity theory, we determined key parameters, including Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength. The method, which also accounts for strain-hardening behaviour via the Hollomon model, enables precise simulation of HMMC with randomly distributed reinforcement particles of varying shapes and sizes, offering a realistic representation of the composite microstructure. Verification against literature confirms the accuracy of the approach in reflecting both elastic and plastic behaviour, providing essential insights into the material's full mechanical response, particularly yield strength and strain-hardening properties, aspects rarely explored in-depth in existing studies on HMMC.