Fiber-reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composites Research Articles

Effect of the distribution of lip-shaped matrix cracks in continuous fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composites on failure progress under transverse tension

ABSTRACT This paper develops a numerical model that contained random lip-shaped matrix cracks based on the maximum energy release rate criterion for the prediction of failure progress of Continuous Fibre-reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composites (CFCC) under transverse tension. Fibre distribution layout is created based on the actual microstructure and the Random Sequential Adsorption algorithm is used to generate the distribution of lip-shaped matrix cracks. The influence of the lip-shaped matrix crack distribution and crack density on the failure progress and stress–strain response was investigated. It was found that the onset of damage initiation commenced from the lip-shaped matrix crack when the interface fracture energy was smaller than the critical interface fracture energy. The failure progress and the predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental results. The different matrix cracks distribution affected the failure progress. Finally, the tensile strength and the elastic modulus both decreased with the crack density increasing.

Damage accumulation and lifetime prediction of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites under thermomechanical fatigue loading

AbstractIn this paper, the damage accumulation and life prediction in fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) subjected to thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) loading are investigated. The relationships between TMF damage mechanisms, fatigue hysteresis-based damage parameters, fraction of broken fiber, and applied cycles are established. Evolution of fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy, fatigue hysteresis modulus, fatigue peak strain, fatigue broken fiber fraction versus applied cycle curves, and the fatigue life S–N curves is analyzed. Damage accumulation and fatigue life of cross-ply silicon carbide/magnesium aluminosilicate composite under in-phase (IP)- and out-of-phase (OP)-TMF and isothermal fatigue (IF) loading are predicted. Under the same fatigue peak stress, the fatigue lifetime decreases from IF loading at 566°C to IF loading at 1,093°C, IP-TMF and OP-TMF. The TMF loading significantly reduced the fatigue lifetime of CMCs.

Time-Dependent Deformation and Fracture Behavior of Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic-Matrix Composites under Stress-Rupture Loading at Intermediate Temperature

AbstractThe present study investigated the time-dependent deformation, damage, and fracture tendencies of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) that were exposed to stress-rupture loadi...

A micromechanical temperature-dependent vibration damping model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites

In this paper, a micromechanical temperature-dependent vibration damping model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) is developed. Temperature-dependent damage mechanisms of matrix cracking, interface debonding and slip, and fibers fracture contribute to the vibration damping of damaged CMCs. The temperature-dependent fiber and matrix strain energy and dissipated energy density are formulated of composite constituent properties and damage related micro parameters of matrix crack spacing, interface debonding and slip length, and broken fibers fraction. Theoretical relationships between temperature-dependent composite damping, temperature and temperature-dependent damage mechanisms are established. Effects of composite constituent properties (i.e., fiber volume, interface debonding energy, interface shear stress and interface frictional coefficient) and composite damage state (i.e., matrix crack spacing) on temperature-dependent composite vibration damping of SiC/SiC composite are analyzed. When the fiber volume increases, the composite vibration damping decreases, and the temperature for the peak value of the composite vibration damping increases, mainly due to the decrease of the interface debonding and slip fraction. Experimental temperature-dependent composite vibration damping of 2D SiC/SiC composite at the temperature range of 293–1373 K are predicted using the developed micromechanical vibration damping model. Experimental vibration damping of 2D SiC/SiC composite increases with temperature, and the theoretical predicted composite vibration damping for different vibration stress of σ = 5, 6, and 7 MPa are obtained and agreed with experimental data, and the predicted interface debonding and slip fraction increases with temperature.

A cyclic-dependent vibration damping model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites

Under cyclic fatigue loading, cyclic-dependent damage mechanisms affect the vibration damping of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs). In this paper, a cyclic-dependent vibration damping model of fiber-reinforced CMCs is developed. Combining cyclic-dependent damage mechanisms, damage models and dissipated energy model, relationships between composite vibration damping, cyclic-dependent damage mechanisms, vibration stress and applied cycle number are established. Effects of material properties and damage state on composite vibration damping are analyzed for different applied cycle number and vibration stress. Experimental composite vibration damping of 2D and 3D C/SiC composites without/with coating is predicted for different vibration frequencies and applied cycle number. With increasing applied cycle number, cyclic-dependent composite vibration damping increases due to the increase ratio of interface debonding and slip. When fiber volume and matrix cracking spacing increase, cyclic-dependent composite vibration damping decreases due to the decrease ratio of interface debonding and slip.

A micromechanical vibration damping model of fiber-reinforced ceramic–matrix composites considering interface debonding

A micromechanical vibration damping model of fiber-reinforced ceramic–matrix composites is developed considering interface debonding. The relationship between the stress-dependent composite damping and interface debonding is established. Effects of material properties and damage-related parameters on the vibration damping of fiber-reinforced CMCs are discussed. Experimental vibration damping with interface debonding of C/SiC composites is predicted. When the vibration frequency increases from f = 1–5 Hz, the vibration damping decreases due to the increasing dynamic interfacial shear stress and low frictional dissipated energy in the debonding region. The composite vibration damping decreases with increasing fiber volume, matrix crack spacing and interface shear stress, and increases with fiber radius and fiber elastic modulus. When the interface debonding energy increases, the vibration damping decreases when the interface partial debonding and approaches the same value when the interface complete debonding, and the vibration stress for complete interface debonding increases.

A micromechanical tension-tension fatigue hysteresis loops model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites considering stochastic matrix fragmentation

A micromechanical tension–tension fatigue hysteresis loops model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) is developed considering synergistic effects of stochastic matrix fragmentation and interface debonding. Evolution of matrix fragmentation with applied stress is determined using a numerical method. Fatigue hysteresis loops models for long, medium and short matrix fragmentation are developed based on the interface damage mechanism. Experimental fatigue hysteresis loops of two different CMCs are predicted. With increasing fatigue peak stress, matrix fragmentation density increases, and residual and peak strain, hysteresis area and width increase. Effects of fiber volume and interfacial shear stress on fatigue hysteresis loops are also discussed.

A micromechanical tension-compression fatigue hysteresis loops model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites

In this paper, a micromechanical tension-compression fatigue hysteresis loops model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) is developed. Upon unloading or reloading, the stress-strain of tension-compression fatigue hysteresis loops are divided into three different regions. Multiple micromechanical damage parameters of unloading transition stress, closure stress of the matrix cracking, compressive transition stress, complete compressive stress, and reloading transition stress are adopted to characterize the tension-compression stress-strain hysteresis loops. The characteristics of the tension-compression fatigue hysteresis loops of unidirectional SiC/CAS composite are analyzed for different material properties, damage stage, tensile fatigue peak stress, and compression fatigue valley stress. The experimental tension-tension and tension-compression fatigue stress-strain hysteresis loops of unidirectional SiC/CAS composite are predicted using the developed micromechanical models. Under low fatigue valley compressive stress, the tension-compression fatigue hysteresis loop exhibits no closure of matrix cracking; and under high fatigue valley compressive stress, the tension-compression fatigue hysteresis loops exhibit closure of matrix cracking, and complete compressive in the fiber and the matrix. However, the compressive valley stress has no effect on the values of matrix cracking closure stress, compressive transition stress, and complete compressive stress.

Asbestos-Based Pottery from Corsica: The First Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composite.

Asbestos-containing pottery shards collected in the northeast of Corsica (Cap Corse) and dating from the 19th century, or earlier, have been analyzed by SEM-EDS, XRPD, FTIR and Raman microspectroscopy. Blue (crocidolite) and white (chrysotile) asbestos fiber bundles are observed in cross-sections. Most of the asbestos is partly or totally dehydroxylated, and some transformation to forsterite is observed to occur, indicative of a firing above 800 °C. Examination of freshly fractured pieces shows a nonbrittle fracture with fiber pull-out, consistent with a composite material behavior, which makes these ceramics the oldest fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite. Residues indicate the use of this pottery as a crucible for gold extraction using cyanide.

A Micromechanical Fatigue Limit Stress Model of Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic-Matrix Composites under Stochastic Overloading Stress.

Fatigue limit stress is a key design parameter for the structure fatigue design of composite materials. In this paper, a micromechanical fatigue limit stress model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) subjected to stochastic overloading stress is developed. The fatigue limit stress of different carbon fiber-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composites (i.e., unidirectional (UD), cross-ply (CP), 2D, 2.5D, and 3D C/SiC) is predicted based on the micromechanical fatigue damage models and fatigue failure criterion. Under cyclic fatigue loading, the fatigue damage and fracture under stochastic overloading stress at different applied cycle numbers are characterized using two parameters of fatigue life decreasing rate and broken fiber fraction. The relationships between the fatigue life decreasing rate, stochastic overloading stress level and corresponding occurrence applied cycle number, and broken fiber fraction are analyzed. Under the same stochastic overloading stress level, the fatigue life decreasing rate increases with the occurrence applied cycle of stochastic overloading, and thus, is the highest for the cross-ply C/SiC composite and lowest for the 2.5D C/SiC composite. Among the UD, 2D, and 3D C/SiC composites, at the initial stage of cyclic fatigue loading, under the same stochastic overloading stress, the fatigue life decreasing rate of the 3D C/SiC is the highest; however, with the increasing applied cycle number, the fatigue life decreasing rate of the UD C/SiC composite is the highest. The broken fiber fraction increases when stochastic overloading stress occurs, and the difference of the broken fiber fraction between the fatigue limit stress and stochastic overloading stress level increases with the occurrence applied cycle.

A time-dependent vibration damping model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites at elevated temperature

In this paper, a time-dependent vibration damping model of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) is developed. Considering time and temperature dependent interface damages of oxidation, debonding, and slip, the relationships between composite vibration damping, material properties, internal damages, oxidation duration and temperature are established. The effects of material properties, vibration stress, damage state, and oxidation temperature on time-dependent composite vibration damping and interface damages of C/SiC composite are discussed. The time-dependent composite vibration damping decreases with fiber volume, matrix crack spacing and interface shear stress, and increases with vibration stress. The experimental composite vibration damping and internal damages of 2D C/SiC composite for different oxidation duration t = 2, 5 and 10 h at elevated temperatures T = 700, 1000 and 1300 °C are predicted. When the oxidation duration was short (i.e., t = 2 h), the composite vibration damping decreased with temperature; however, when the oxidation duration was long (i.e., t = 5 and 10 h), the composite vibration damping decreased with temperature below 1000 °C, and increased with temperature to 1300 °C.

Effect of pre-fatigue loading on tensile damage and fracture of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites

In this paper, the effect of pre-fatigue loading on tensile damage and fracture of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) is investigated using a micromechanical approach. Under cyclic fatigue loading, the fiber/matrix interface shear stress degrades with applied cycles due to the damage mechanism of the interface wear. The micro stress field of the damaged composite including matrix cracking, fiber/matrix interface debonding, and fiber failure is obtained for the fiber and the matrix axial stress and the fiber/matrix interface shear stress in the interface wear region, interface debonding region, and the interface bonding region, respectively. The fracture mechanics approach, stochastic matrix cracking model, and global load sharing (GLS) criterion are used to determine the interface debonding length, matrix cracking density, and fiber failure probability at higher applied stress level considering the damage mechanism of the interface wear. The effects of fiber volume, matrix cracking, fiber/matrix interface shear stress, fiber strength, pre-fatigue peak stress, and number of cycles on pre-fatigue tensile damage and fracture of SiC/SiC composites are analyzed. The experimental tensile damage and fracture of SiC/SiC composites with and without pre-fatigue loading are predicted for different interface properties.

Temperature-dependent proportional limit stress of SiC/SiC fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites

AbstractIn this paper, the temperature-dependent proportional limit stress (PLS) of SiC/SiC fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) is investigated using the micromechanical approach. The PLS of SiC/SiC is predicted using an energy balance approach considering the effect of environment temperature. The relation between the environment temperature, PLS, and composite damage state is established. The effects of the fiber volume, interface properties, and matrix properties on the temperature-dependent PLS and composite damage state of SiC/SiC composite are analyzed. The experimental PLS and interface debonding length of 2D SiC/SiC composites with the PyC and BN interphase at elevated temperatures are predicted. The temperature-dependent PLS of SiC/SiC composite increases with the fiber volume, interface shear stress and interface debonding energy, and the matrix fracture energy and decreases with the interface frictional coefficient at the same temperature.

Effect of temperature on matrix multicracking evolution of C/SiC fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites

AbstractIn this paper, the temperature-dependent matrix multicracking evolution of carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide ceramic-matrix composites (C/SiC CMCs) is investigated. The temperature-dependent composite microstress field is obtained by combining the shear-lag model and temperature-dependent material properties and damage models. The critical matrix strain energy criterion assumes that the strain energy in the matrix has a critical value. With increasing applied stress, when the matrix strain energy is higher than the critical value, more matrix cracks and interface debonding occur to dissipate the additional energy. Based on the composite damage state, the temperature-dependent matrix strain energy and its critical value are obtained. The relationships among applied stress, matrix cracking state, interface damage state, and environmental temperature are established. The effects of interfacial properties, material properties, and environmental temperature on temperature-dependent matrix multiple fracture evolution of C/SiC composites are analyzed. The experimental evolution of matrix multiple fracture and fraction of the interface debonding of C/SiC composites at elevated temperatures are predicted. When the interface shear stress increases, the debonding resistance at the interface increases, leading to the decrease of the debonding fraction at the interface, and the stress transfer capacity between the fiber and the matrix increases, leading to the higher first matrix cracking stress, saturation matrix cracking stress, and saturation matrix cracking density.

Comparison of prior exposure tensile damage and fracture of two-dimensional C/SiC and SiC/SiC fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites

In this paper, a micromechanical constitutive model for prior exposure tensile damage and fracture of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites is developed considering the multiple damage mechanisms of matrix multicracking, interface debonding and oxidation, and fiber fracture. The relationships between prior exposure temperature, duration time, interface debonding fraction, broken fiber fraction, tensile strength, and fracture strain of C/SiC and SiC/SiC composites are established. The experimental prior exposure tensile damage evolution and final fracture of two-dimensional (2D) C/SiC and SiC/SiC composites are predicted for different temperatures and duration times. The comparison analysis of prior exposure composite tensile strength, fracture strain, interface debonding fraction, and broken fiber fraction between 2D C/SiC and SiC/SiC composites is investigated. The effects of constituent properties and temperature on prior exposure tensile damage and fracture of 2D C/SiC and SiC/SiC composites are discussed. For 2D C/SiC and SiC/SiC composites under prior exposure at 1300℃, the fracture strain decreased with fiber volume, interface shear stress, and prior exposure temperature, and increased with fiber characteristic strength; the tensile strength increased with fiber volume and fiber characteristic strength, and decreased with prior exposure temperature; the interface debonding fraction decreased with fiber volume, and increased with prior exposure temperature; and the fiber broken fraction decreased with fiber volume and fiber characteristic strength, and increased with prior exposure temperature.

Modeling stress-dependent matrix multiple fractures of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites considering fiberoxidation and fracture

ABSTRACT In this paper, the stress-dependent matrix multiple fractures of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) with fiber oxidation and fracture is investigated. The shear-lag model is combined with the fiber oxidation and fracture models, and the fiber/matrix interface debonding criterion is adopted to determine the micro-stress field of the damaged fiber-reinforced CMCs. The effects of the fiber volume, interface shear stress, interface debonding energy, oxidation temperature and time on the stress-dependent matrix multiple fractures, interface debonding and oxidation, and fiber fracture are discussed. When the fiber volume fraction and the interface shear stress in the debonding region increased, the matrix first cracking stress and saturation cracking stress increased, the saturation matrix cracking space decreased, and the matrix multiple fracture evolution rate increased. When the interface debonding energy and the interface shear stress in the oxidation region increased, the matrix cracking density increased. When the oxidation temperature and oxidation duration increased, the matrix cracking density decreased. The experimental matrix multiple fractures of unidirectional C/SiC, SiC/SiC, mini-SiC/SiC, SiC/CAS, SiC/CAS-II, and SiC/borosilicate composites are predicted.

A multi-scale stochastic model for damage analysis and performance dispersion study of a 2.5D fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites

This paper presents a stochastic approach to study the damage evolution and performance dispersion of a 2.5D woven fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite in a multi-scale framework. The mechanical behavior of the composite depends on the constituent properties, fiber volume fraction, weave architecture and loading conditions. The dispersion behavior of the material was investigated with: i) a full-thickness meso-scale representative volume element (RVE) model which is established based on the weave architecture of the material, and ii) the Monte-Carlo method to obtain the effective mechanical properties of the material which are influenced by the dispersion in its constituents. The simulations reveal the damage initiation and propagation process of the material at micro/meso-scale. The results show that there are significant relationships between the constituent properties and the effective mechanical properties; the effective properties of material can be predicted with small errors, which would guide the design and optimization of composite materials.

Effect of Stochastic Loading on Tensile Damage and Fracture of Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic-Matrix Composites.

In this paper, the effect of stochastic loading on tensile damage and fracture of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) is investigated. A micromechanical constitutive model is developed considering multiple damage mechanisms under tensile loading. The relationship between stochastic stress, tangent modulus, interface debonding and fiber broken is established. The effects of the fiber volume, interface shear stress, interface debonding energy, saturation matrix crack spacing and fiber strength on tensile stress–strain curve, tangent modulus, interface debonding fraction and fiber broken fraction are analyzed. The experimental tensile damage and fracture of unidirectional and 2D SiC/SiC composites subjected to different stochastic loading stress are predicted. When fiber volume increases, the initial composite strain decreases, the initial tangent modulus increases, the transition stress for interface debonding decreases and the initial fiber broken fraction decreases. When fiber strength increases, the initial composite strain and fiber broken fraction decrease.

Modeling Temperature-Dependent Vibration Damping in C/SiC Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic-Matrix Composites.

In this paper, the temperature-dependent vibration damping in C/SiC fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) with different fiber preforms under different vibration frequencies is investigated. A micromechanical temperature-dependent vibration damping model is developed to establish the relationship between composite damping, material properties, internal damage mechanisms, and temperature. The effects of fiber volume, matrix crack spacing, and interface properties on temperature-dependent composite vibration damping of CMCs and interface damage are analyzed. The experimental temperature-dependent composite damping of 2D and 3D C/SiC composites is predicted for different loading frequencies. The damping of the C/SiC composite increases with temperature to the peak value and then decreases with temperature. When the vibration frequency increases from f = 1 to 10 Hz, the peak value of composite damping and corresponding temperature both decrease due to the decrease of interface debonding and slip range, and the damping of 2D C/SiC is much higher than that of 3D C/SiC at temperature range from room temperature to 400 °C. When the fiber volume and interface debonding energy increase, the peak value of composite damping and the corresponding temperature decreases, mainly attributed to the decrease of interface debonding and slip range.

Damage evolution and lifetime of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites under stress-rupture with stochastic loading at intermediate temperatures

In this paper, the stress-rupture of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) with stochastic loading at intermediate temperature is investigated. There are four different stochastic loading sequences under stress-rupture are considered with different loading time and time spacing. The micro stress filed of the damaged CMCs, the damage models of the matrix cracking, fiber/matrix interface debonding, and fiber failure consider the stochastic loading and time-dependent interface and fiber oxidation. The damage evolution of the stress-rupture strain, fiber/matrix interface debonding length and interface oxidation length, and the broken fibers fraction versus the time curves of SiC/SiC composite subjected to four different stochastic loading sequences are analyzed. The effects of the fiber volume, matrix crack spacing, fiber/matrix interface debonding energy, fiber/matrix interface shear stress, and environmental temperature on the damage evolution and lifetime of SiC/SiC composite are discussed. The experimental damage evolution and lifetime of SiC/SiC composite under stress-rupture with stochastic loading are predicted. Under stress-rupture with stochastic loading, the stress-rupture lifetime decreases with the stress level, and the frequency of the stochastic loading; the stress-rupture lifetime increases with the fiber volume, and decreases with environmental temperature; and the time for the interface complete debonding increases with the fiber volume, matrix crack spacing, interface debonding energy and interface frictional shear stress in the slip and oxidation region, and decreases with the temperature.