Whisker-reinforced Composites Research Articles

Effect of Silicon Carbide Fiber or Whisker Reinforcement on the Thermal Diffusivity/Conductivity of an Osumilite Glass‐Ceramic

The thermal diffusivity of silicon carbide fiber‐ and whisker‐reinforced osumilite glass‐ceramic was determined by the laser‐flash method. The thermal conductivity was calculated from the data of thermal diffusivity, density, and specific heat measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Because of the much higher thermal conductivity of the crystalline silicon carbide whiskers compared to the corresponding value for the amorphous fibers, the whisker‐reinforced composites exhibited significantly higher thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity than the fiber‐reinforced composites.

A statistical theory of material strength with application to composite materials

Abstract A Statistical theory of material strength is proposed. Materials are considered to be imperfect heterogeneous continua composed of discrete volume elements whose characteristics are related to material structure and imperfections. The strength of the elements is assumed to be a statistic a quantity, and as the material is loaded elements fracture randomly throughout the body causing localized stress concentrations. The accumulation of these breaks results in overall failure. By relating strength to material structure this theory attempts to bridge the gap between the microscopic and continuum approaches to fracture mechanics. The theory is applied to composite materials reinforced with whiskers and continuous fibers. Comparisons with experimental data show good agreement. Results for whisker-reinforced composites appear to provide a good prediction of strength and an explanation of the disparity between the strength of individual whiskers and the strength of the composites made from them.

A statistical theory of material strength with application to composite materials

A Statistical theory of material strength is proposed. Materials are considered to be imperfect heterogeneous continua composed of discrete volume elements whose characteristics are related to material structure and imperfections. The strength of the elements is assumed to be a statistic a quantity, and as the material is loaded elements fracture randomly throughout the body causing localized stress concentrations. The accumulation of these breaks results in overall failure. By relating strength to material structure this theory attempts to bridge the gap between the microscopic and continuum approaches to fracture mechanics. The theory is applied to composite materials reinforced with whiskers and continuous fibers. Comparisons with experimental data show good agreement. Results for whisker-reinforced composites appear to provide a good prediction of strength and an explanation of the disparity between the strength of individual whiskers and the strength of the composites made from them.