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T. Nam, G. Requena, H.P. Degischer:
"Modelling and numerical computation of thermal expansion of aluminium matrix composite with densely packed SiC particles";
Talk: International Conference on Material Theory and Nonlinear Dynamics, Hanoi, Hanoi/ Vietnam (invited); 09-24-2007 - 09-26-2007; in: "Proceedings of the International Conf. on Material Theory on Nonlinear Dynamics", (2007), 1 - 9.

The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is one of the most important physical properties of metal matrix composites (MMCs). The expansion behavior is correlated to the microstructure,
the deformation of the matrix, and the internal stress conditions. During the present study the instantaneous CTE of Al-based metal matrix composites reinforced with 70 vol. % SiC particles is analytically computed in order to explain abnormalities in the thermal expansion behavior obtained experimentally. The numerical modeling was carried out from room temperature (RT) to 500oC using finite element analysis (FEA) combining the effects of microscopic
voids and phase contiguity. The FEA are based on a two-dimensional unit cell model. The used unit cell models consider the composites as a continuous rigid phase infiltrated with the ductile Al matrix. The obtained thermal expansion behavior is strongly influenced by the presence of voids and a comparison of instantaneous CTE with the experimental results shows a good agreement.

Aluminium matrix composites, particle reinforced metals, thermal expansion, CTE, unit cell models