Abstract: The metal matrix composite with particles as the reinforcement phase not only has excellent plasticity and toughness of matrix, but also has high strength and hardness of ceramic particles.When the volume fraction of ceramic particles increases, the strength, hardness and wear resistance increase at the same time, but the plasticity and toughness decrease dramatically.Therefore, it is of great significance to design and prepare metal matrix composites with strength and toughness matching and high wear resistance.With the breakthrough of the basic theory of controlled heterogeneous distribution of reinforced phase, the heterogeneous configuration of reinforced phase has become an effective method to solve the contradiction of strengthening and toughening.The research progress of layered composite structures, gradient structures, core-shell structures, network structures and multi-scale hybrid structures reinforced metal matrix composites was comprehensively expounded from the aspects of microstructure, configuration design and interface characteristics.The application prospect and development direction of configurational design in metal matrix composites were discussed.