The determination of the elastic field of an ellipsoidal inclusion in a transversely isotropic medium, and its relevance to composite materials

Abstract

The elastic field about an ellipsoidal inclusion embedded within a transversely isotropic matrix of the same elastic constants is calculated by a method analogous to that by which Eshelby in 1957 derived the corresponding solution for an isotropic matrix. Metal matrix composites are often extruded during processing and this can give rise to a matrix texture which is transversely isotropic. Consequently, the model is used to examine the effect of anisotropy of stiffness on the predictions of the composite Young's modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion and plastic deformation.