Comparison of the mechanical hysteresis of carbon/ceramic-matrix composites with different fiber preforms

The mechanical hysteresis of four ceramic matrix composites with different carbon fiber preforms, i.e. needled C/SiC, 2D C/SiC, 2.5D C/SiC, and 3D C/SiC, was investigated and compared during cyclic reloading-unloading tests. An effective coefficient of the fiber volume fraction in the direction of loading (ECFL) was defined to characterize fiber architectures of the preforms. It is shown that an increase in permanent strain and a decrease in stiffness with the applied stress were strongly affected by the ECFL. The thermal residual stress (TRS) and ultimate tensile strength of the composites are predicted theoretically related to the ECFL, and then validated by experimental results and microstructural observations. The predicted results not only demonstrate good agreement with experimental measurements, but also explain why differences in the composite ECFL result in substantial variations in TRS.     

Damage development and lifetime prediction of cross-ply ceramic-matrix composites subjected to cyclic loading at room and elevated temperatures

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the damage development and lifetime prediction of fibre-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites subjected to cyclic loading at elevated temperatures in oxidising atmosphere have been investigated. Considering the damage mechanisms of matrix cracking, interface debonding, interface wear and interface oxidation, the damage evolution of fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy, fatigue hysteresis modulus, fatigue peak strain, interface shear stress and broken fibres fraction have been analysed. The relationships between damage parameters and internal damage of matrix cracking, interface debonding and slipping, and fibres fracture have been established. The experimental fatigue hysteresis, interface slip lengths, peak strain, and the fatigue life curves of cross-ply CMCs under cyclic loading at elevated temperature have been predicted. The different fatigue behaviour in unidirectional and cross-ply CMCs at room and elevated temperatures subjected to low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue has been discussed.     

Multiple Cracking of Unidirectional and Cross-PlyCeramic Matrix Composites

This paper examines the multiple cracking behavior of unidirectional and cross-ply ceramic matrix composites. For unidirectional composites, a model of concentric cylinders with finite crack spacing and debonding length is introduced. Stresses in the fiber and matrix are found and then applied to predict the composite moduli. Using an energy balance method, critical stresses for matrix cracking initiation are predicted. Effects of interfacial shear stress, debonding length and bonding energy on the critical stress are studied. All the three composite systems examined show that the critical stress for the completely debonded case is lower than that for the perfectly bonded case. For cross-ply composites, an extensive study has been made for the transverse cracking in 90° plies and the matrix cracking in 0° plies. One transverse cracking and four matrix cracking modes are studied, and closed-form solutions of the critical stresses are obtained. The results indicate that the case of combined matrix and transverse crackings with associated fiber/matrix interfacial sliding in the 0° plies gives the lowest critical stress for matrix cracking. The theoretical predictions are compared with experimental data of SiC/CAS cross-ply composites; both results demonstrated that an increase in the transverse ply thickness reduces the critical stress for matrix cracking in the longitudinal plies. The effects of fiber volume fraction and fiber modulus on the critical stress have been quantified. Thermal residual stresses are included in the analysis.     

Tension-tension fatigue behavior of unidirectional SiC/Si3N4 composite with strong and weak interface bonding at room temperature

In this paper, the tension-tension fatigue behavior of unidirectional SiC/Si₃N₄ ceramic-matrix composite with strong and weak interface bonding at room temperature has been investigated using a micromechanical approach. The hysteresis loops models considering different interface slip cases have been developed to establish the relationships between fatigue hysteresis loops, hysteresis dissipated energy, hysteresis modulus, and the interface shear stress. The damage evolution process under tension-tension fatigue loading has been analyzed using hysteresis loops. By comparing experimental fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy with theoretical computational values, the interface shear stresses of SiC/Si₃N₄ composite with weak and strong interface bonding were obtained for different cycle numbers. The fatigue life S‒N curves and broken fibers fraction versus cycle number curves corresponding to different fatigue peak stresses have been predicted. For SiC/Si₃N₄ with strong interface bonding, the fatigue limit stress approaches to 75% tensile strength, which is much higher than that of composite with weak interface bonding, i.e., 58% tensile strength, due to the higher interface shear stress degradation rate for weak bonding interface.     

Effects of interface bonding properties on cyclic tensile behavior of unidirectional C/Si3N4 and SiC/Si3N4 composites

In this paper, the effect of fiber/matrix interface bonding properties on the cyclic loading/unloading tensile stress?strain hysteresis loops of 2 different ceramic‐matrix composites (CMCs), ie, C/Si₃N₄ and SiC/Si₃N₄, has been investigated using micromechanical approach. The relationships between the damage mechanisms (ie, matrix multicracking saturation, fiber/matrix interface debonding and fibers failure), hysteresis dissipated energy and internal frictional damage parameter have been established. The damage evolution processes under cyclic loading/unloading tensile of C/Si₃N₄ and SiC/Si₃N₄ composites corresponding to different fiber/matrix interface bonding properties have been analyzed through damage models and interface frictional damage parameter. For the C/Si₃N₄ composite with the weakest fiber/matrix interface bonding, the composite possesses the lowest tensile strength and the highest failure strain; the hysteresis dissipated energy increases at low peak stress, and the stress?strain hysteresis loops correspond to the interface partially and completely debonding. However, for the SiC/Si₃N₄ composite with weak interface bonding, the composite possesses the highest tensile strength and intermediate failure strain; and the hysteresis dissipated energy increases faster and approaches to a higher value than that of composite with the strong interface bonding.     

Comparison of Tensile Behaviors of Carbon/Ceramic Composites with Various Fiber Architectures

Tensile behaviors of 1D (unidirectional), 2D (plain woven), and 3D (braided) C/SiC composites were compared. The results show that 1D C/SiC minicomposites have the highest tensile performance compared to the lowest of 2D C/SiC among the three composites studied. The characteristic slope recovery exhibited in stress–strain curves of 1D composites is absent in those of 2D and 3D composites, which can be attributed to different preform architectures and constituent properties. A straightforward approach was developed to model the tensile properties of the multidimensional composites based on properties of minicomposites. Such relationships are fairly robust for these real composites when orthogonally loaded.     

Elastic Properties of Laminated Calcium Aluminosilicate/Silicon Carbide Composites Determined by Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy

The elastic properties of unidirectional and 0°/90° crossply Nicalon-SiC-fiber-reinforced calcium aluminosilicate (CAS/SiC) ceramic-matrix composites have been measured using a resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) technique. This approach has allowed the nondestructive determination of the complete set of independent second-order elastic stiffness constants of these ceramic composites. These stiffness data have been used to obtain the orientation dependence of Young's modulus and the shear modulus. The results are in reasonably good agreement with the limited experimental data obtained from mechanical testing. The RUS measurements reveal that the unidirectional CAS/SiC composite is well modeled by transverse isotropic symmetry, indicating relatively isotropic fiber spacing in the transverse plane. The analysis indicates that the overall elastic anisotropy is also small for unidirectional and 0°/90° laminated CAS ceramic-matrix composites, a result that can be attributed to the relatively low modulus ratio of the Nicalon SiC fiber to the CAS matrix and to the moderate fiber volume fraction.     

三维针刺C/SiC复合材料无纬布纤维方向对材料力学性能的影响

通过化学气相渗透法结合反应熔体浸渗法制备了三维针刺C/SiC复合材料,采用扫描电子显微镜观察材料的显微结构,并研究了无纬布纤维方向对材料力学性能的影响.结果表明,三维针刺C/SiC复合材料由O°无纬布层、短纤维胎网层、90°无纬布层以及针刺纤维束组成,无纬布层纤维方向对材料性能有显著影响.试样的拉伸强度和弯曲强度随着无纬布纤维方向与试样长度方向的夹角θ(0 ～45°)值的增大而减小,面内剪切强度和冲击韧性随θ角的增大而增大.     

Modeling matrix multicracking development of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites considering fiber debonding

In this paper, the effect of fiber debonding on matrix multicracking development of different fiber-reinforced CMCs is investigated using the micromechanical approach. The Budiansky–Hutchinson–Evans shear-lag model is adopted to analyze the fiber and matrix stress distributions of the damaged composite. The fracture mechanics approach is used to determine the fiber/matrix interface debonding length. Combining the critical matrix strain energy criterion and fracture mechanics fiber/matrix interface debonding criterion, the stress-dependent matrix multicracking development is analyzed for different fiber volume fraction, fiber/matrix interface properties and matrix cracking characteristic stress. The experimental matrix multicracking development of unidirectional C/Si₃N₄, SiC/Si₃N₄, SiC/CAS, SiC/CAS-II, SiC/SiC, SiC/Borosilicate and mini-SiC/SiC composites are predicted.     

Effects of Fiber Architecture on Matrix Cracking for Melt-Infiltrated SiC/SiC Composites

The matrix cracking behavior of slurry cast melt-infiltrated SiC matrix composites consisting of Sylramic-iBN fibers with a wide variety of fiber architectures were compared. The fiber architectures included 2D woven, braided, 3D orthogonal, and angle interlock architectures. Acoustic emission was used to monitor in-plane matrix cracking during unload–reload tensile tests. Two key parameters were found to control matrix-cracking behavior: the fiber volume fraction in the loading direction and the area of the weakest portion of the structure, that is, the largest tow in the architecture perpendicular to the loading direction. Empirical models that support these results are presented and discussed.     

Thermal stability of CVI and MI SiC/SiC composites with Hi-Nicalon™-S fibers

The influence of high-temperature argon heat-treatment on the microstructure and room- temperature in-plane tensile properties of 2D woven CVI and 2D unidirectional MI SiC/SiC composites with Hi-Nicalon?-S SiC fibers was investigated. The 2D woven CVI SiC/SiC composites were heat-treated between 1200 and 1600 °C for 1- and 100-hr, and the 2D unidirectional MI SiC/SiC composites between 1315 and 1400 °C for up to 2000 hr. In addition, the influence of temperature on fast fracture tensile strengths of these composites was also measured in air. Both composites exhibited different degradation behaviors. In 2D woven CVI SiC/SiC composites, the CVI BN interface coating reacted with Hi-Nicalon?-S SiC fibers causing a loss in fast fracture ultimate tensile strengths between 1200 and 1600 °C as well as after 100-hr isothermal heat treatment at temperatures > 1100 °C. In contrast, 2D unidirectional MI SiC/SiC composites showed no significant loss in in-plane tensile properties after the fast fracture tensile tests at 1315 °C. However, after isothermal exposure conditions from 1315° to 1400°C, the in-plane proportional limit stress decreased, and the ultimate tensile fracture strain increased with an increase in exposure time. The mechanisms of strength degradation in both composites are discussed.     

Mechanical hysteresis and damage evolution in C/SiC composites under fatigue loading at room and elevated temperatures

In this paper, the mechanical hysteresis and damage evolution in C/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) under cyclic tension-tension fatigue loading at room and elevated temperatures in air and in inert atmosphere and different loading frequencies are investigated. The fatigue hysteresis loops models considering multiple matrix cracking modes are developed to establish the relationships between fatigue hysteresis loops, fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy, and fiber/matrix interface shear stress. The evolution of fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy and interface shear stress vs applied cycles is analyzed. It was found that the interface shear stress degradation rate increases with fatigue peak stress, and loading frequency from 40 to 375 Hz.     

High temperature bending properties and failure mechanism of 3D needled C/SiC composites up to 2000 ℃

Three-dimensional (3D) needled C/SiC composites were prepared and subjected to three-point bending tests from room temperature (RT) to 2000 ℃ under vacuum. The results show that the flexural strength and modulus increase in the range of RT to 800 °C due to the release of thermal residual stress (TRS). At 800–1700 °C, the modulus further increases for the further release of TRS, while the destruction of the pyrolytic carbon (PyC) coating reduces the flexural strength. Up to 2000 ℃, the thermal mismatch stress in the composites cause fiber slippage and matrix crack deflection to be zigzag, which increase the fracture strength. The change of components properties mediated by high temperature and the release of TRS play a leading role in the flexural strength and fracture mode. The results provide important support for the mechanical behavior of 3D needled C/SiC composites at ultra-high temperature.     

Fabrication of a 3D4d braided SiCf/SiC composite via PIP process assisted with an EPD method

In order to improve the thermal conductivity and full-fill the gaps between the fiber bundles for three-dimensional four-directional (3D4d) braided SiC_f/SiC composites, 500?nm submicron-sized β-SiC particles were introduced into the 3D4d preform by an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. ζ-potential of the KD-Ⅱ SiC fibers and the aqueous suspension of the β-SiC particles were analyzed, as well as the efficiency of the deposition. After densified via PIP process, microstructure, three-point bending strength and thermal conductivity of the composite were investigated. The results showed that, SiC particles filled the gaps between the SiC fiber bundles efficiently, and thermal conductivity of the composites fabricated through PIP process assisted by EPD was 2.3 times that of the composites fabricated via PIP only. The bending strength of the EPD-composites was 647.08?±?69.53?MPa, which decreased to 2/3 of that of the composites manufactured only by PIP, owing to the reduction of fiber volume fraction and the damages to the interface coatings and fibers under the action of the electric field.     

Preparation of SiC/SiC Composites by Hot Pressing, Using Tyranno-SA Fiber as Reinforcement

The development of advanced Tyranno SA SiC fiber with a near-stoichiometric composition and a well-crystallized microstructure has made it possible to prepare SiC/SiC composites even under harsh conditions. To assess the reinforcing effectiveness of Tyranno SA fiber at high temperature under pressure, unidirectional SiC/SiC composites were prepared by hot pressing, using pyrolytic carbon (PyC)-coated Tyranno SA fiber as a reinforcement and nanopowder SiC with sintering additives for matrix formation. The effects of sintering conditions on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the composites were characterized. As the sintering temperature increased (from 1720° to 1780°C) and the sintering pressure increased (from 15 to 20 MPa), the density of the composites gradually increased. Simultaneously, the elastic modulus, the proportional limit stress, and the strength, under both bend and tensile tests, also improved. At lower temperature and/or pressure, long fiber pullout was a predominant fracture behavior, indicating relatively weak fiber/matrix bonding. However, at high temperature and/or pressure, short fiber pullout became a main fracture characteristic, indicating relatively strong fiber/matrix bonding. These phenomena were also confirmed by the characteristics of the hysteresis loops derived from the stress–strain curves produced by a tensile test with unloading–reloading cycles. In the present investigation, the reinforcement of Tyranno SA fiber is effective for providing noncatastrophic fracture behavior to composites.     

化学气相渗透法制备2维和2.5维C/SiC复合材料及其拉伸性能

采用化学气相渗透法制备了2维和2.5维碳纤维增强碳化硅(carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide,C/SiC)复合材料,沿经纱(纵向)和纬纱(横向) 2个方向对2种复合材料进行了室温拉伸性能测试,并从预制体结构和原始缺陷分布的角度对比分析了两者力学性能之间的差异.结果表明:两种C/SiC复合材料均表现出明显的非线性力学行为,在经纱方向和纬纱方向上,2维C/SiC复合材料力学性能表现为各向同性,而2.5维C/SiC复合材料力学性能则表现出明显的各向异性:经纱方向上2.5维C/SiC复合材料的拉伸强度和拉伸模量(326 MPa,153 GPa)均高于2维C/SiC复合材料的(245 MPa,96 GPa),纬纱方向上的(145 MPa,62 GPa)均低于2维C/SiC复合材料的(239 MPa,90 GPa).两种复合材料的拉伸断裂行为均表现为典型的韧性断裂,并伴有大量的纤维拔出.两种复合材料中纱线断裂均呈现出多级台阶式断裂方式,但其断裂位置并不相同.2.5维C/SiC复合材料中由于经纱路径近似于正弦波,弯曲程度较大,在纱线交叉点处造成明显的应力集中,因此经纱多在纱线交叉点处断裂;而纬纱由于其路径近乎直线,应力集中现象不明显,因此纬纱断裂位置呈随机分布.2维C/SiC复合材料中经纱和纬纱由于其路径类似于2.5维C/SiC复合材料中的经纱,因此其断裂位置也多在纱线交叉点处.微观结构观察表明不同的编织结构是造成两种复合材料在不同方向上力学性能差异的主要原因.     

Synchrotron X-ray tomographic characterization of CVI engineered 2D-woven and 3D-braided SiCf/SiC composites

The properties of ceramic matrix composites strongly depend upon their complex internal structures. To better understand and improve the properties of the silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites (SiC_f/SiC), we explored the microstructural properties of composites reinforced with either two-dimensional (2D) woven or three-dimensional (3D) braided preforms using synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography. Transects and volumetric images of the composites were reconstructed from objection images and the microstructures were investigated in three spatial directions. The network of void space in a composites was visualized in 3D and quantitative analysis of the porosity was performed to characterize the fiber-tissue structures. 2D-woven SiC_f/SiC composite exhibited important fluctuations of porosity in different directions and the stacking of plies had a significant effect on the porosity distribution. In contrast, 3D-braided SiC_f/SiC composites showed much less variation of porosity. We found the degree of densification of the composite also influenced the porosity distribution.     

纤维束丝数对平纹编织C/SiC复合材料力学性能的影响

通过对2种丝束平纹编织碳纤维布增强SiC（C/SiC）复合材料的力学性能实验,研究了纤维束丝数（1 k和3 k）对复合材料性能的影响.实验结果表明：1 k C/SiC复合材料的拉伸模量、拉伸强度、压缩模量、压缩强度、面内剪切强度和弯曲强度分别为90.8 GPa,281.8 MPa,135.8 GPa,452.2 MPa,464.3 MPa和126.8 MPa,分别比3 k C/SiC高39%,15.8%,25%,132%,29.3%和30.2%.纤维束粗细不同是导致纤维束弯曲度和复合材料孔隙率差异的主要原因,对压缩强度的影响最大,对拉伸强度的影响最小.     

Influence of thermo‐oxidative aging on vibration damping characteristics of conventional and graphene‐based carbon fiber fabric composites

The effect of thermo‐oxidative aging on the vibration damping characteristics of the conventional fabric composites reinforced by three‐dimensional (3D) and four‐directional (4Dir) braided preform and laminated plain woven fabric and the 3D‐4Dir braided graphene‐based carbon fiber composites was investigated. Specimens were isothermally aged at 140 °C for various periods of time up to 1,200 h. The results indicated that the thermo‐oxidative aging resulted in deterioration of the matrix and interface performance, in the form of chain scissions, weight loss, microcracks and interfacial debonding, which should be responsible for the decrease of nature frequency and the increase of damping coefficient of the composites. After aging for 1,200 h, the first nature frequency and first damping coefficient retention rates of 3D‐4Dir braided graphene‐coated carbon fiber/epoxy composite were 5.5% and 6.4% higher than those of laminated composite, respectively. One of the reasons was the integrated structure of 3D‐4Dir braided composite exposed lower fiber end area to air than that of laminated composite, leading to less interface oxidation. Another reason was that the graphene reinforced gradient interphase provided an effective shield against interface oxidation and restricted the movement of the different phase of the materials at the composites interface. This synergetic reinforcing effect of 3D‐4Dir braided structure and graphene reinforced hierarchical interface provides an easy and effective way to design and improve the thermo‐oxidative stability of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2871–2883, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The effects of preparation temperature on the SiCf/SiC 3D4d woven composite

Continuous silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix (SiC_f/SiC) composites have promising applications in aero-engine due to their unique advantages, such as low density, high modulus and strength, outstanding high temperature resistance and oxidation resistance. As SiC fibers are main reinforcements in SiC_f/SiC composites, the crystallization rate and initial damage degree of SiC fibers are seriously influenced by preparation temperatures of SiC_f/SiC composites, namely mechanical properties of SiC fibers and SiC_f/SiC composites are influenced by preparation temperatures. In this paper, KD-II SiC fibers were woven into 3D4d preforms and SiC matrix was fabricated by PIP process at 1100 °C, 1200 °C, 1400 °C and 1600 °C. Digital image correlation (DIC) method was adopted to measure the uniaxial tensile properties of these SiC_f/SiC composites. In addition, finite element method (FEM) based on representative volume element (RVE) was adopted to predict the mechanical properties of SiC_f/SiC composites. The good agreements between numerical results and experimental results of uniaxial tensile tests verified the validity of the RVE. In last, the transverse tensile, transverse shear, uniaxial shear properties were predicted by this method. The predicted results illustrated that axial tensile, transverse tensile and axial shear properties were greatly influenced by the preparation temperatures of SiC_f/SiC composites while transverse shear properties were not significantly various. And the mechanical properties of SiC_f/SiC composites peaked at 1200 °C among these four temperatures while their values reached their lowest points at 1600 °C because of thermal damage and brittle failure of SiC_f/SiC composites.