Creep of metal–matrix composites with elastic fibers—part I: continuous aligned fibers

Abstract--A constitutive model that accounts for the effects of fiber failure on the high temperature mechanical behavior of metal-matrix composites (MMC) reinforced by long brittle fibers is presented. Weibull statistics are used to describe the strength of the fibers and the assumption of "global load sharing ' is used to determine the average stress in the fibers. The developed three-dimensional constitutive model involves a 'damage parameter ' that accounts for the accumulated fiber failure. A method for the numerical integration of the constitutive equations i developed. The proposed model is used together with the finite element method to predict he life of a plate with a hole loaded in tension in the direction of the fibers under creep conditions. (?) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. I