Large strain deformation of a copper—tungsten composite system. II. Applications

A model composite system comprised of tungsten fibres in a polycrystalline copper matrix has been used to examine the processes which control (i) matrix texture development, (ii) recrystallization behaviour in the matrix and (iii) the damage accumulation process. The composite was deformed in plane strain compression with the fibres parallel to the direction of zero strain (i.e. perpendicular to the loading axis). Experimental measurements were made of local and global texture development as well as metallographic observations of the pattern of recrystallization events and metallographic observations of damage events in the tungsten fibres or at the copper—tungsten interface. Physically based explanations are used to describe the results in terms of the local flow pattern in the matrix and the local distribution of stresses.