Effect of hydrostatic pressure on flow and deformation in highly reinforced particulate composites

Infiltrated particle reinforced composites combine a dense matrix with particles that are in mutual contact and can therefore transfer compressive stress directly from one particle to the next. As a result, these composites may combine characteristics of the plasticity of their matrix with those of granular matter plasticity. We measure here the influence of a 200 MPa superimposed fluid hydrostatic pressure on the flow stress of high volume fraction (56-62 vol pct) particulate Al2O3-Al composites produced by infiltration and show that the yield response of such composites is indeed pressure-sensitive. A simple analysis that transposes to metal matrix composites the theory of fluid-saturated granular media mechanics explains the phenomenon quantitatively. (C) 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.