Analytic prediction of yield stress and strain hardening in a strain gradient plasticity material reinforced by small elastic particles

TL;DR

This paper develops an analytical model to predict how small elastic particles dispersed in a matrix influence the yield stress and strain hardening behavior in strain gradient plasticity, validated by numerical and experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a new analytical solution for predicting yield strength and hardening in particle-reinforced materials within a strain gradient plasticity framework, accounting for particle variability and elastic mismatch.

Findings

Excellent agreement with FE simulations for small particles and low volume fractions.

Model successfully calibrated against experimental tensile data.

Incorporates shearable particles' strengthening effects using line tension models.

Abstract

The influence on macroscopic work hardening of small, spherical, elastic particles dispersed within a matrix is studied using an isotropic strain gradient plasticity framework. An analytical solution, based on a recently developed yield strength model is proposed. The model accounts for random variations in particle size and elastic properties, and is numerically validated against FE solutions in 2D/3D material cell models. Excellent agreement is found as long as the typical particle radius is much smaller than the material length scale, given that the particle volume fraction is not too large ($<10\%$) and that the particle/matrix elastic mismatch is within a realistic range. Finally, the model is augmented to account for strengthening contribution from shearable particles using classic line tension models and successfully calibrated against experimental tensile data on an $Al-2.8wt\%Mg-0.16wt\%Sc$ alloy.