This paper is concerned with the description of the nonlinear mechanical properties of composite media. We develop a general theoretical framework for the determination of the overall nonlinear behavior of a two-phase composite, with randomly oriented elastic and ellipsoidal particles embedded in a ductile medium, in terms of the multiple-scattering theory. This theory is versatile enough to provide results under any proportionally increasing combined stress. Two solutions, namely, non-self-consistent and self-consistent solutions, for the nonlinear behavior are discussed. The theoretical predictions also compare reasonably with the experimental results.

• Received 12 April 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.48.3042