On the competition between particle fracture and particle decohesion in metal matrix composites

A simple model for describing the competition between interface decohesion and particle cracking as the elementary damage nucleation mechanisms in heterogeneous materials is proposed. It allows to rationalise the influence of the plastic behaviour of the ductile matrix and of the interfacial strength. The model is applied to analyse the dominant damage mechanisms in model composites with aluminium alloys matrix and spherical zirconia/silica reinforcement.