Stereology in quantitative microstructural analysis: the orientation factor
Abstract
In order to describe orientation effects on the properties of multiphase engineering materials one needs more than a mathematically defined orientation factor. For practical purposes it is necessary that this orientation factor reflects three-dimensional orientation and can be derived from measurements made in two-dimensional cross sections by quantitative microstructural analysis. Furthermore it has to have a real meaning. This is what the present paper provides: an orientation factor which describes the orientation of particles or fibres in composites or other multiphase materials as a function of the angle between those features and a defined preferential direction (reference direction) as a spatial average and which results from values measured in two-dimensional sections via stereological relationships. Its derivation also implies, that the orientation factor reflects the orientation effect in microstructure-property-equations in agreement with experimental results.