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Critical stresses for extension of filament-bridged matrix cracks in ceramic-matrix composites: An assessment with a model composite with tailored interfaces

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Ceramic Society
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
  2. NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)

Matrix cracking was studied in a model unidirectional composite of SiC filaments in an epoxy-bonded alumina matrix. The residual clamping stress on the filaments due to the shrinkage of the epoxy was moderated with the addition of the alumina filler, and the filament surface was coated with a releasing agent to produce unbonded frictional interfaces. Uniaxial tension specimens with controlled through-cracks with bridging filaments were fabricated by a two-step casting technique. Critical stresses for extension of the filament-bridged cracks of various lengths were measured in uniaxial tension using a high-sensitivity extensometer. The measured crack-length dependence of the critical stress was in good agreement with the prediction of a stress-intensity analysis that employed a new force-displacement law for the bridging filaments. The analysis required independent experimental evaluation of the matrix fracture toughness, the interfacial sliding friction stress, and the residual tension in the matrix. The matrix-cracking stress for the test specimens without the deliberately introduced cracks was significantly higher than the steady-state cracking stress measured for the long, filament-bridged cracks.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
69613
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 78; ISSN 0002-7820; ISSN JACTAW
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English