Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Investigation of the flow properties of materials containing rigid reinforcements has been prompted by various technological challenges concerned with high specific strength composites. The materials of interest range from metallic materials such as Al alloys, to ceramic materials such as Si3N4 and also include the intermetallics: TiAl and MoSi2. The reinforcements are typically A12O3 and SiC. The strengths of interest may be the flow strength at ambient temperature or the creep strength. The present analysis constitutes an attempt to provide estimates of either the flow or creep strength for matrices that exhibit power law deformation.