Image processing and Finite Element modelling for analysis of a metal matrix composite

Finite element analysis is the most used methodology to predict the mechanical behavior of a large spectrum of materials. It covers many research areas. In the case of metal matrix composites the reinforcing particles are being approximately represented by general regular geometries; i.e. spherical, rectangular, cylindrical and pyramidal shapes. Their distribution is generally arbitrary or approximately distributed with regular homogenous distribution but it doesn’t represent the real configuration of reinforcing particles into the composite matrix, in many cases. We are dealing in this paper with a comparative finite element study of two dimensional and three dimensional microstructure based model of a composite reinforced with ceramic particles. In this study we have discussed the advantages and limitations of each particular reinforcing particle shape in finite element models based on experimental results. In fact, microstructure based Finite element modeling is a very developed field, in which it is supposed that finite element models predict with high accuracy the properties and the behavior of either particles and matrix of the composite material. Some conclusions are emphasized based on comparative studies.