Numerical Simulation of Low-Velocity Impact Response of Functionally Graded SiCp/Al6061 Composite Plate Using Mesoscopic Modeling and Considering Porosity

Numerical simulation is significant for investigating impact performance of functionally graded SiC[Formula: see text]/Al6061 composite plate. Existing numerical studies rely on stress–strain characteristics derived from theoretical models which hardly consider damage softening and porosity effect. In this work, an effective modeling method is developed to generate geometric models of representative volume elements (RVEs) of SiC[Formula: see text]/Al6061 composites. It avoids the limitations of traditional methods in generating RVEs with high ceramic content. Finite element (FE) models for uniaxial compression of RVEs are established with consideration of elastoplastic behaviors of constituent materials and interfacial damage. Stress–strain curves of SiC[Formula: see text]/Al6061 composites are obtained from FE simulation results by a homogenization method. The stress–strain curves can reproduce the damage softening, and the predicted elastic moduli agree well with those estimated by Mori–Tanaka theory. Low-velocity impacts of a functionally graded SiC[Formula: see text]/Al6061 composite plate are simulated using the stress–strain curves. The simulation results are close to those using stress–strain curves obtained by a theoretical method, however, overestimate contact forces in comparison with experimental results. Novel porous RVE FE models are further developed to consider the porosity effect. The models give an improved prediction for stress–strain characteristics of the composites and low-velocity impact response of the functionally graded composite plate.