An averaging method of elastoplastic behavior of composites and polycrystalline metals

Typical approaches to estimate analytically average characteristics of composites may be the Hashin-Shtrikman upper/lower bounds and a method based on the Mori-Tanaka theory. These take into account microscopic geometry and local equilibrium. Within the elastic framework, we proposed a similar averaging approach which includes the classical methods and these modern methods. The method deals with 3-phase materials, but the matrix has zero volume fraction as a limit. The predictions have some characteristics similar to those by Hill's self-consistent method, and explain experimental results better than the Hashin-Shtrikman bounds. We here apply the same approach to elastoplastic materials under general loading conditions. The results are compared with pre-existing experimental data to show precision and feasibility of the method.