Dynamical response of particulate-loaded materials. II. A theory with application to alumina particles in an epoxy matrix

If stiff solid particles are tightly packed into a soft matrix material, the response of the composite material cannot be modeled by simple mixing rules. The loads resulting from interparticle contact give rise to a complex response which includes dilatancy of the mixture during shearing. A three-dimensional theory which includes the interparticle contact stresses is derived and applied to a mixture of alumina particles in epoxy. The stress wave response of this mixture is studied. These studies include a detailed comparison to the pressure-shear experiments of Chhabildas and Swegle contained in Part I of this work. [J. Appl. Phys. 53, xxx (1982)]