Study on the Micro-Scale Deformation Behavior of Al-B4C Composite by Using CPFE-CZ Model

Aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMCs) reinforced with B4C particles (Al-B4C) exhibit excellent properties, rendering them a promising material for use in aerospace, automotive, electronic packaging, and military applications. However, the creation of intricate parts from Al-B4C is hindered by the instability of the mechanical properties and a dearth of research on the forming technology of this material. To surmount these issues, a novel simulation and prediction method was developed based on the crystal plasticity finite element-cohesive zone model (CPFE-CZ). In this work, the CPFE method was employed to model the mechanical response of the Al matrix, while the cohesive zone (CZ) model was utilized to describe the separation of matrix and reinforcement particles through the implementation of the bi-linear traction separation law and QUADS criterion. The proposed CPFE-CZ method was utilized to investigate the effect of various factors, including microstructure morphology, grain orientation, and size of matrix grains, as well as the volume fraction and size of particles, on the deformation behavior of Al-B4C. This research fills a gap in the exploration of the deformation mechanisms of AMMCs and presents a novel computational method that will allow for a better understanding of the deformation and damage mechanisms of similar material types.