Nonlinear elastic moduli of composite materials with nonlinear spherical inclusions dispersed in a nonlinear matrix

Abstract: A theory is developed for evaluation of nonlinear elastic moduli of composite materials with nonlinear inclusions dispersed in another nonlinear material (matrix). We elaborate a method aimed for determination of elastic parameters of a composite: its linear elastic moduli (second-order elastic constants) and nonlinear elastic moduli, which are known as the Murnaghan moduli (third-order elastic constants). We find an analytical form for the effective Murnaghan moduli of a composite with spherical inclusions. The effective moduli depend linearly on Murnaghan moduli of constituents. The results obtained have been verified through numerical modeling using the finite element method.