Behavioural analysis of particle reinforcement in Al-MMC on mechanical and thermal properties using DIGIMAT

Due to their remarkable mechanical and thermal properties, ceramic-reinforced composites are becoming a hot topic for structural and aeronautical applications. It is still challenging to distribute ceramic reinforcements uniformly while maximising performance. This study uses modelling and experimental techniques to assess the mechanical and thermal behaviour of Al7075 alloy reinforced with silicon carbide (SiCp) particles. This approach is carried out in two successive steps: first, preparing the composite using the stir casting technique to find the optimum SiC addition. Tensile strength, Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus showed that at ideal SiC volume fractions (10 vol.%), tensile strength increased by 7.1% and Young's modulus was enhanced by 11%. Agglomeration resulted in a decrease in characteristics after this point. Improved thermal resistance was confirmed by thermal analysis, which revealed a reduction in thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity, with the lowest values seen at 15 vol.% SiCp. Second, advanced modelling of SiC reinforcement into Al7075 matrix is done using DIGIMAT mean field homogenisation (MF), followed by ANSYS simulation for thermomechanical property prediction. A comparative study was carried out using simulated and experimental test results. These results highlight the possibility of creating high-performance composites using DIGIMAT-MF, which is specifically suited for aerospace applications by fusing analytical methods with experimental validation.