Progress on strengthening and toughening mechanism for metal matrix composites by configuration design

Configuration design is one of feasible strategies to overcome the trade-off between strength and ductility of metal matrix composites (MMCs). Revealing the effect of configuration design on the mechanical properties is the key to realize the structural controllability of MMCs. The configuration design of MMCs not only changes the microstructures, but also tailors the distribution of local strain (stress) of MMCs under loading. Correspondingly, the change of local strain (stress) distribution will affect the mechanical properties of MMCs. Some advanced characterization technologies including synchrotron radiation X-ray, neutron diffraction, and digital imaging correlation offer strong tools to analyze the local strain (stress), and help us to determine the relationship between local strain distribution, strengthening and toughening mechanism, as well as configuration design, which will improve our ability to tailor the mechanical properties of MMCs. This paper reviews the recent progress on strengthening and toughening MMCs by structural design, and proposes the framework of elucidating the physical mechanisms of strengthening and toughening behavior through in situ strain tracking. The applications of configuration design to MMCs are also reviewed.