Micromechanical Modelling of Thermoelastic Behavior of AA7020/TiC Metal Matrix Composites

Chennakesava R Alavala

Abstract: The present work was intended to estimate thermoelastic behavior of AA7020/titanium carbide nanoparticle metal matrix composites. TiC is used as a heat shield coating for atmospheric reentry of spacecrafts. The thermal loading was varied from subzero temperature to recrystallization temperature. The RVE models were used to analyze thermo-elastic behavior. The stiffness of AA7020/titanium carbide nanoparticle metal matrix composites increased with the increase of temperature and loading of TiC nanoparticles. The stiffness was raised steeply above 100oC which is very interesting phenomena to be scientifically explored for low volume fractioned (20%) TiC composites. A higher modulus characteristically indicates that the material is harder to deform.

Keywords: AA7020 alloy, titanium carbide, RVE model, thermoelastic, finite element analysis.