The mechanics of failure of silicon carbide fiber-reinforced glass-matrix composites

Abstract

Tensile and bending tests have been performed on a high-strength silicon carbide fiber-reinforced glass-matrix (LAS) composite. The experimental results indicate that the strength of the composite component is strongly dependent on the geometry and loading. A model of failure is developed which allows a uniform interpretation of the experiments when due account is taken of the strength of the matrix, the statistical nature of the properties of the fibers, and the dimension of the fiber pull-out length.