Elastic fields and effective stiffness tensor of spheroidal particle composite with imperfect interface

An analytical approach to the elasticity homogenization problem for a spheroidal particle composite with general imperfect interface has been developed. The considered model takes into account the volume content and elastic moduli of constituents, shape, size and orientation of inhomogeneities and interface stiffness. The multipole expansion method has been applied to obtain an accurate solution to the problem for a single spheroidal inhomogeneity with imperfect interface. This solution constitutes a mathematical background of the Maxwell homogenization scheme. The formula for effective stiffness is derived by equating the induced dipole moment of equivalent inclusion to the total dipole moment of individual inhomogeneities. Numerical study shows a significant combined effect of interface stiffness and particle size, shape and orientation on the stress field and macroscopic stiffness of composite.