Computational Analysis of the Influence of Residual Stress on the Strength of Composites with Different Aluminum Matrices and Carbide Particles
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The author conducted a numerical study of the mechanical behavior of aluminum matrix–carbide particle composites subjected to combined thermomechanical loading. The crack initiation and propagation in the particles are also explored based on the established model. This article provides an opportunity for researchers to further their knowledge of specific aspects of aluminum matrix–carbide particle composites. However, the academic and innovative nature of the paper should be further improved, this manuscript can be accepted and published under major revision.
The modifications required are shown below:
1. The innovative nature of the article should be clearly stated in the introduction section.
2. Is there any relevant research on the micromechanical model of aluminum matrix composites? What is the difference between this paper and these studies? These need to be clearly stated.
3. The verification of simulation results needs to be detailed, and it is recommended to give a quantitative comparison.
4. For the reproducibility of the study, it is suggested that the author provide more detailed modeling details, including grid characteristics, boundary condition characteristics, etc.
5. The loading direction and form of boundary load need to be further explained and explained in combination with experiments.
6. The failure process of only one kind of structure is given in the paper. What should be the failure form of different structures? The author should give a discussion. In addition, the research results are generally considered to be highly related to the specific shape of the model, and the author should give corresponding explanations
7. Some pictures are not standardized. As shown in Figure 1b, the scale is covered. The author should check the full text and make corresponding modifications.
8. Further language modification is necessary.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The deformation and fracture of Al, Al6061 and Al6061T4 matrix and composites of WC, TiC and B4C particles were numerically studied. The dynamic boundary value problem is solved in two-dimensional formula by ABAQUS/Explicit. However, the results lack validation and innovation.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
This paper conducted numerical study on the mechanical behavior of aluminum matrix-carbide particle composites subjected to the combined thermomechanical loading. The effects of the cooling-induced residual stresses and matrix/particle material properties on the deformation and facture of the composites were analyzed in detail. However, there are some suggestions for the authors:
(1) The English language and style should be improved, such as the "cooling-induced residual stresses" could replace the "cooling-induced residual stresses.
(2) What is the symbol of ef? How to calculate the value of ef ?
(3) The damage and fracture process should be discussed in detail.
(4) The experiments should be described in this paper, and the numerical predictions should be compared with the experiment results.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
This paper studied the residual stress affects the strength of composite and shows its effects varies depends upon the thermomechanical properties of the matrices and different ceramics particles. The manuscript can be reconsidered for publication after addressing the following minor issues:
1. In the abstract, there is no mention of the major results and conclusions. (An abstract should be a stand-alone section)
2. In the introduction, line 25 and line 26 do not complement each other. After the semi-colon (;), we expect the mention of the different industries where MMCs are used. Please modify.
3. From a basic keyboard search, the price of Al (2.6USD/kg) is increasing while that of Mg (2USD/kg) is decreasing. Does the low-price hold for Al MMCs against Mg MMCs, which is lighter than Al?
4. In line 95, the authors use (Fig.1) but the caption is (Figure 1). Authors should ensure uniformity. other instances-Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b, Fig. 4, Fig. 7
5. In Figure 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 the axis title and axis label are inline. Besides, the X-axes labels are like (0,00 0,35). If these values are not vectors, they should be written as (0.00 0.35) to indicate the decimal place. Also check line 296, strain of 4,5% or (4.5%)?
6. In the second type of boundary condition, the structure is cooled down from 350 ℃ to 23 ℃. On what basis the maximum temperature 350 ℃ has been selected as the maximum temperature for thermo mechanical loading?
7. In fig.8 b, the results of A16061T4-WC (RS and NRS) composite not been discussed with the individual curve values. It is suggested to include the values and discussions which differ from A16061 composite properties.
8. In the case of b4c particle, please provide more discussion of the mechanism on the equivalent stress to attain the critical value faster in the RS condition.
9. In line 327, typo error in “Figure 9”. It should be Figure 10.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
Submitted manuscript is devoted to very interesting study of the mechanical behavior of aluminum matrix–carbide particle composites subjected to combined thermomechanical loading.
Work is well illustrated but the style of the figures is unusual for international journal (a (b) should be instead a, b for axes). The are problems with writing the significant numbers (Table 1) and errors are not analyzed.
There are no future prospects at the end of the discussion. For example,
electrophysical techniques like electric wire explosion are very productive and allow production of very large amount of spherical particles
(Nanopowders produced by electrical explosion of wires, Proceedings of European Congress of Chemical Engineering (ECCE-6)Copenhagen, 16-20 September 2007;
Fe nanoparticles produced by electric explosion of wire for new generation of magneto-rheological fluids Smart Mater. Struct. 27 045011 2018).
In the present case authors discuss irregular shape of the particles.
How the change of the particles shape changes the conclusions?
English requires some corrections.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The author answered my question appropriately and I have no further questions
Author Response
Thank you again for the valuable comments and careful attention to our work.
Reviewer 2 Report
1.The deformation and fracture of composites were numerically simulated using Al, Al6061563, and Al6061T4 matrices, as well as WCTiC and boron carbide particles.
However, it is recommended to provide a detailed description of the specific method of finite element simulation. How to model? What are the steps?
2.Necessary references should be added to the formulas used in the paper，and the format of references needs to be unified
3.In Figure 17, how does the particle ratio affect the residual stress distribution? The explanation was not very clear
4.The statement in the conclusion section is not concise enough
Author Response
Thank you again for the valuable comments and careful attention to our work.
1.The deformation and fracture of composites were numerically simulated using Al, Al6061563, and Al6061T4 matrices, as well as WCTiC and boron carbide particles.
However, it is recommended to provide a detailed description of the specific method of finite element simulation. How to model? What are the steps?
A description is added. Figure 1 is modified.
2.Necessary references should be added to the formulas used in the paper，and the format of references needs to be unified
Corrected.
3.In Figure 17, how does the particle ratio affect the residual stress distribution? The explanation was not very clear
Explanation is enhanced. Figure 18 is modified by adding states AB, AC and AD.
4.The statement in the conclusion section is not concise enough
Conclusions are reformulated and shorten.
