Abstract: The effects of SiC particle and whisker on the strength of aluminum alloy matrix composites have been discussed. The effects of the characteristics of discontinuons reinforcements on the strength of compsites was revealed on the basis of a review of the elastic-plastic finite element method which was applied to predict the stress-strain constituent relationship for particle and whisker reinforeed MMCs. It is snggested that the reinforcement shape or morphology, aspect ratio and distribution in the matrix should be considered in order to get more accumte numerical results. Theoretical strength analysis models predicted the trend of the strength for particle MMCs, but the theoretical results are generally lower compared with the experimental results, especially for the lower strength aluminum alloy. This is becaase strength theories did not consider the change of microstructure of reinforced matrix after particle incorpomtion. We have proposed a combined microstructure strengthening analysis, and the prediction is consistent with the eperimental results.

Key words: SiC particle, SiC whisker, reinforcement, yield strength, MMCs