Elastoplastic deformation of Al/SiCp metal-matrix composite studied by self-consistent modelling and neutron diffraction

dNeutron diffraction was used to measure the lattice strains in Al/SiCp metal-matrix composite under an external load applied while the sample was in situ in the neutron beam. The evolution of the internal stresses and of the critical-resolved shear stress during bending were predicted by elastoplastic models. Calculations based oil these models were verified by comparison with the results of the diffraction experiment. It was found that the self-consistent model correctly predicts the distribution of stresses between the two phases of the Al/SiCp composite. Finally, the parameters characterising elastoplastic deformation of the Al-matrix were determined. (C) 2003 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.