Interface effect on the effective bulk modulus of a particle-reinforced composite

Classical micromechanical methods for calculating the effective moduli of a heterogeneous material are generalized to include the interface (surface) effect. By using Hashin's Composite Sphere Assemblage (CSA) model, a new expression of the bulk modulus for a particle-reinforced composite is derived. It is emphasized that the present study is within the finite-deformation framework such that the effective properties are not influenced by the interface stress itself solely, but influenced by the change of the interface stress due to changes of the shape and size of the interface. Hence some inadequacies in previous papers are pointed out. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10032010, 10372004) and Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline