Micro-mechanical Modeling of the Consolidation Processes in Titanium Metal Matrix Composites

티타늄금속기 복합재료의 강화공정에 관한 미시역학적 모델링

Metal matrix composites(MMCs) are increasingly attractive for high technology components such as aerospace applications and transportations due to their high strength, stiffness, and toughness. Many processes for fabricating MMCs have been developed, and relatively simple Foil-Fiber-Foil method is usually employed in solid state consolidation processes. During the consolidation processes at high temperature, densification occurs by the inelastic flow of the matrix materials, and the process is coupled with the conditions of pressure, temperature and volume fraction of fiber and matrix materials. This is particularly important in titanium matrix composites, and thus a generic model based on micro-mechanical approaches enabling the evolution of density over time to be predicted has been developed. The mode developed is then implemented into FEM so that practical process simulation has been carried out. Further the experimental investigation of the consolidation behavior of SiC/Ti-6Al-4V composites using vacuum hot pressing has been performed, and the results obtained are compared with the model predictions.