Estimate constituent properties of 3D needle-punched C/SiC composites from hysteresis loops

Abstract

To improve the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs), it is necessary to establish the relationship between the composite’s constituent properties and macro mechanical properties. In this paper, a hysteresis-based micromechanical method was adopted to obtain the constituent properties of four different types of 3D needle-punched C/SiC composites. Hysteresis-based damage parameters (i.e., inverse tangent modulus (ITM), hysteresis width, residual strain, hysteresis modulus, and damage factor) were derived from the hysteresis theory. Through analysis of the experimental monotonic tensile and cyclic hysteresis curves, the composite’s constituent properties (i.e., interface properties and thermal residual stress, etc.) and mechanical properties (i.e., first matrix cracking stress, interface debonding stress, and ultimate tensile strength, etc.) were obtained. Relationship between the composite’s constituent properties and mechanical properties was established. Using the estimated composite’s constituent properties and developed micromechanical constitutive models, the experimental monotonic and cyclic tensile loading/unloading curves were predicted.