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T. Nam, G. Requena, H.P. Degischer:
"Numerical Modeling of Thermal Expansion of Al-Based Metal Matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles";
Talk: 6th International EUROSIM Congress, Ljubljana (Laibach)/ Slovenia (invited); 09-09-2007 - 09-13-2007; in: "Proc. EUROSIM 2007", (2007), ISBN: 978-3-901608-32-2; 1 - 8.

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.

Al-based metal matrix composites, Particle reinforced metals, Thermal expansion, CTE, Unit cell model