Effect of Quasi-Static Loading Rate on Damage Formation in Silicon Carbide Reinforced Calcium Aluminosilicate Unidirectional Composites

For experiments at higher and lower loading rates, significant differences in the mechanical responses of unidirectional silicon carbide reinforced calcium aluminosilicate composites were observed. Axial and transverse stress–strain measurements, acoustic emission measurements, and post-test microstructural observations all indicated that there are changes in the sequence and extent of the formation of damage. The differences are attributed to rate-dependent matrix cracking due to environmental effects and rate dependencies associated with the fiber–matrix interface.