Multi-Scale Characterization of Orthotropic Microstructures
Abstract
Computer-generated 2-D microstructures of varying second-phase area fraction (5% to 30%), aspect ratio (1 to 16), and degree of alignment (where the reinforcement major-axis orientation is random, perfectly aligned, or semi-aligned) are analyzed via the isotropic and directional forms of the computationally efficient Multi-Scale Analysis of Area Fractions (MSAAF) technique. The impact of these microstructure parameters on the representative volume element (RVE) necessary to characterize a microstructure is ascertained with variations in isotropic and directional homogenous length scales, derivative quantities of the MSAAF technique. Analysis of these results produces empirical expressions for the directional homogenous length scale as a function of area fraction and aspect ratio for the limiting cases of random and "perfect" second phase alignment. Generally, particle alignment is observed to increase the aspect ratio of a microstructure's RVE -- a trend amplified by higher reinforcement aspect ratios and lower area fractions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA489997
Entities
People
- G. Wilks
- J. E. Spowart
- M. A. Tschopp
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory