Creep behavior of SiC fiber-reinforced hot-pressed Si3N4 composites

The creep response of SiC fiber-reinforced Si₃N₄ composites has been measured using four-point flexural loading at temperatures of 1200–1450°C and stress levels ranging from 250 to 350 MPa. Parameters characterizing the stress and temperature dependence of flexural creep strain rates were determined. A numerical analysis was also performed to estimate the power-law creep parameters for tensile and compressive creep from the bend test data. The incorpoporation of SiC fiber into Si₃N₄ resulted in substantial improvements in creep resistance even at very high stresses. The steady-state creep deformation mechanism, determined to be subcritical crack growth in the unreinforced matrix, changed to a mechanism in the composites of repeated matrix stress relaxation-fiber rupture-load dispersion by the matrix. Multiple fiber fracture rather than multiple matrix cracking resulted. The tertiary creep in the composite resulted from the rapid growth of the microcracks which initiated from the fiber rupture sites. Fiber strength, matrix cracking stress and interfacial shear strength have been identified as the key microstructural parameters controlling the creep behavior of the composite.     

Fracture energy of UHP-FRC under direct tensile loading applied at low strain rates

This research investigates the fracture energy of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concretes (UHP-FRC) under direct tensile loading applied at relatively low strain rates. Nine UHP-FRC series incorporating three types of steel fibers (straight, end-hooked, and twisted fibers), each in three different fiber volume fractions, are tested under uniaxial tensile loading at four different strain rates, ranging from 0.0001 s⁻¹ to 0.1 s⁻¹. Particular attention is given to clearly distinguish between the dissipated energy during the strain hardening and softening portions of the loading regime. The test results show that: 1) the fracture energy is mainly influenced by a parameter, termed fiber factor, which is a function of the fiber volume fraction and slenderness, and 2) all three types of UHP-FRCs exhibit increases in fracture energy with increasing strain rates. The observed strain rate sensitivity of the fracture energy suggests it is likely associated with the strain sensitive micro-cracking that occurs during fiber pull-out.     

Strengthening and toughening mechanisms in microfiber reinforced cementitious composites

Materials with quasi-brittle stress strain curves exhibit desirable properties such as enhanced durability, flaw tolerance and toughness. This study reveals that steel microfiber reinforced cement based composites exhibit such quasi-brittle behavior. Mechanical properties of steel microfiber reinforced cement based composites are obtained through flexure and splitting tension tests. The cracking process and crack fiber interactions that lead to the quasi-brittle behavior in these composites were investigated. The strength and toughness enhancement is associated with crack wake mechanisms. Aggregate bridging and pullout and secondary crack formations associated with microfiber bridging sites are predominant during the strain hardening regime. Multiple secondary microcracks perpendicular to the fiber/matrix interface is the dominant failure mode beyond peak load in the strain softening regime.     

Mechanical behaviour and microstructural characterization of 3D four‐directional braided SiO2f/SiO2 composites

In this paper, SiO_2f/SiO₂ composites reinforced by 3D four‐directional braided quartz preform were prepared by the silica sol‐infiltration‐sintering method in a relatively low sintering temperature (450 °C). To characterize the mechanical properties of the composites, mechanical testing was carried out under various loading conditions, including tensile, flexural and shear loading. The microstructure and the fracture behaviour of the 3D four‐directional braided SiO_2f/SiO₂ composites were studied. The tensile strength, flexural strength and the in‐plane shear strength were 30.8 MPa, 64.0 MPa and 22.0 MPa, respectively. The as‐fabricated composite exhibited highly nonlinear stress–strain behaviour under all the three types of loading. The tensile and flexural fracture mechanisms were fully discussed. The fracture mode of the 3D four‐directional braided SiO_2f/SiO₂ composite in the Iosipescu shear testing was based on a mixed mechanism because of the multi‐directivity of the composite. Owing to low sintered temperature, the fibre/matrix interfacial strength was weak. The SiO_2f/SiO₂ composites showed non‐catastrophic behaviour resulting from extensive fibre pull‐out during the failure process.     

Quantitative characterization of accelerated aging in cement composites using flexural inverse analysis

A constitutive model consisting of a tri-linear tensile stress-strain with residual strength was applied in characterization and prediction of long term flexural behavior of several cement-based composite materials. Flexural test results were back-calculated to obtain material parameters and establish their relationship with aging. The material behavior is described by tensile stress-strain parameters consisting of elastic modulus, first cracking strain, post cracking stiffness, ultimate strain, and a residual strength parameter. The relationships between the material parameters and age were established by studying the time dependent flexural performance of various composites with glass and natural fibers as reported by Litherland et al. (1981), Marikunte et al. (1997), Bartos et al. (1996), and natural fibers reported by Toledo-Filho et al. (2000). An analytical model for prediction of rate and extent of damage as a function of time and temperature is proposed for degradation of flexural behavior of strain softening and hardening fiber reinforced concrete subjected to aging. This model is applicable to long-term durability of different classes of materials subject to accelerated aging under different environmental conditions.     

Micromechanical modelling of strain hardening and tension softening in cementitious composites

This paper will describe a procedure for modelling the complete macroscopic response (including strain hardening and tension softening) of two short fibre reinforced cementitious composites and show how their microstructural parameters influence this response. From a mathematical point of view it is necessary to examine how bridging forces imposed by the fibres alter the opening of multiple cracks in elastic solids under unidirectional tensile loading. The strain hardening is essentially due to elastic bridging forces which are proportional to crack opening displacements. After a certain critical crack opening displacement is reached, some fibres progressively debond from the elastic matrix and thereafter provide a residual bridging force by frictional pull-out, while others continue to provide full bridging. This results in a kind of elasto-plastic bridging law which governs the initial tension softening response of the composite. Besides the usual square-root singularity at crack tips, the elasto-plastic bridging law introduces a logarithmic singularity at the point of discontinuity in the bridging force. These singularities have been analytically isolated, so that only regular functions are subjected to numerical integration. Unbridged multiple crack problems have in the past been solved using double infinite series which have been found to be divergent. In this paper a superposition procedure will be described that eliminates the use of double infinite series and thus the problem of divergence. It is applicable to both unbridged and bridged multiple cracks. The paper will end by showing how the model of multiple bridged cracks can accurately predict the prolonged nonlinear strain hardening and the initial tension softening response of two cementitious composites.     

Mechanical properties of epoxy composites filled with silane-functionalized graphene oxide

In this work, the effects of as-produced GO and silane functionalized GO (silane-f-GO) loading and silane functionalization on the mechanical properties of epoxy composites are investigated and compared. Such silane functionalization containing epoxy ended-groups is found to effectively improve the compatibility between the silane-f-GO and the epoxy matrix. Increased storage modulus, glass transition temperature, thermal stability, tensile and flexural properties and fracture toughness of epoxy composites filled with the silane-f-GO sheets are observed compared with those of the neat epoxy and GO/epoxy composites. These findings confirm the improved dispersion and interfacial interaction in the composites arising from covalent bonds between the silane-f-GO and the epoxy matrix. Moreover, several possible fracture mechanisms, i.e. crack pinning/deflection, crack bridging, and matrix plastic deformation initiated by the debonding/delamination of GO sheets, were identified and evaluated.     

单边切口薄板研究聚乙烯醇纤维增强水泥基复合材料断裂韧性

利用单边切口薄板对配制的聚乙烯醇纤维增强水泥基复合材料进行单轴直接拉伸试验研究,得到硬化的荷载-裂缝张开位移全曲线。通过试验观察到缺口尖端处出现呈发散状的多条微小裂纹,部分试件在远离切口处还有多条裂缝出现,并不像混凝土或水泥净浆这类半脆性、脆性材料只有单条裂缝并沿着单条路径开裂,因此,适用于应变软化材料的双K断裂理论以及断裂能理论不能直接用在应变已经发生假硬化的材料中。鉴于上述原因,该文提出起裂断裂韧度和耗散能两个韧性评价指标。     

Continuous observation of microstructural degradation during tensile loading of particle reinforced aluminium matrix composites

Abstract

The microstructural degradation of aluminium alloy composites by external tensile loading was continuously observed by in situ scanning electron microscopy tensile testing. The composites, which contained spherical Al₂O₃ and angular SiC particles, were prepared by the powder extrusion method. Some microcracks were initiated at small plastic strains after yielding in both composites by inteliace debonding and particle cracking. Angular particles generate microvoids at smaller strains than spherical particles. The microcracks do not propagate with increasing external loading because of the ductility of the matrix, but a number of new microcracks developed just before failure. Most microcracks are due to interface debonding rather than particle cracking. Many dimples on the matrix aluminium alloy are observed on some particles seen in the fracture surface, which proves that there is relatively strong bonding between the matrix and the particles in the composite produced by powder extrusion. However, part of the original surface observed on the debonded particles indicates that an incompletely bonded interface also exists in the composites.

MST /3111     

压力梯度CVI工艺制备2D炭/炭复合材料的弯曲断裂行为

采用三点弯曲方法测试了压力梯度化学气相浸渗法(CVI)工艺制备的2D炭／炭复合材料的性能，借助于扫描电镜研究了断口和界面形貌，分析了密度和纤维基体界面对材料力学性能的影响。结果表明，随试样密度增加，2D炭／炭复合材料的断裂模式从剪切断裂、层问分离向拉伸断裂转变。材料密度对弯曲强度和模量影响很大，但对弯曲挠度基本没有影响。揭示了影响2D炭／炭复合材料弯曲挠度的关键因素是纤维与热解炭基体界面的结合情况。     

Mechanical and thermal characterization of epoxy composites reinforced with random and quasi-unidirectional untreated Phormium tenax leaf fibers

The present work investigates tensile and flexural behavior of untreated New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) fiber reinforced epoxy composites. Two series of laminates were produced using the same reinforcement content (20 wt%), arranged either as short fibers or quasi-unidirectional ones. Composites reinforced using quasi-unidirectional fibers showed higher modulus and strength both in tensile and flexural loading, when compared to neat epoxy resin. Short fiber composites, although still superior to epoxy resin both for tensile and flexural moduli, proved inferior in strength, especially as concerns tensile strength. These results have been supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which allowed characterizing fiber–matrix interface, and by acoustic emission (AE) analysis, which enabled investigating failure mechanisms. In addition, thermal behavior of both untreated phormium fibers and composites has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), revealing the thermal stability of composites to be higher than for phormium fibers and epoxy matrix alone.     

SiC颗粒增强6061Al基复合材料的动态拉伸性能Ⅰ应变硬化

利用拉伸split Hopkinson bar实验装置研究了SiCp/6061Al复合材料及其基体合金的动态拉伸性能及应变硬化行为。结果表明，与静态加载类似，在动态加载条件下，SiCp/6061Al复合材料的强度高于基体合金的强度，其断裂延伸率低于基体合金的断裂延伸率，在低应变动态拉伸时，复合材料的应变硬化指数高于Al合金材料的应变硬化指数，随着应变的增加，复合材料的应变硬化指数迅速下降，以至低于基体合金的应变硬化指数。     

Effect of fiber loading on the properties of treated cellulose fiber-reinforced phenolic composites

The effect of fiber loading on the properties of treated cellulose fiber-reinforced phenolic composites was evaluated. Alkali treatment of the fibers and reaction with organosilanes as coupling agents were applied to improve fiber–matrix adhesion. Fiber loadings of 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt% were incorporated to the phenolic matrix and tensile, flexural, morphological and thermal properties of the resulting composites were studied. In general, mechanical properties of the composites showed a maximum at 3% of fiber loading and a uniform distribution of the fibers in such composites was observed. Silane treatment of the fibers provided derived composites with the best thermal and mechanical properties. Meanwhile, NaOH treatment improved thermal and flexural properties, but reduced tensile properties of the materials. Therefore, the phenolic composite containing 3% of silane treated cellulose fiber was selected as the material with optimal properties.     

Properties of Fabric–Cement Composites made by Pultrusion

Practical manufacturing and use of thin cement-based elements composites require an industrial cost-effective production process in addition to proper reinforcement materials to improve the tensile and flexural performance. Reinforcement by means of fabric materials is an alternative to the use of short fibers. The objective of this study was to investigate use of pultrusion technique as a cost-effective method for the production of thin-sheet fabric-reinforced cement composites. Woven fabrics made from low modulus polypropylene (PP) and glass meshes were used to produce the pultruded cement composites. The influence of fabric type, PP and glass, processing method, pultrusion vs. cast and cement-based matrix modification were examined. Tensile and pullout tests as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations were used to examine the mechanical, bonding and microstructure properties of the different composites. The rheology of the mix was correlated with the mechanical behavior of the pultruded composites. The tensile behavior of the pultruded fabric–cement components exhibited strain hardening behavior. The best performance was achieved for the PP pultruded composites.     

Strain rate dependence of HPFRCC cylinders in monotonic tension

High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composite (HPFRCC) materials exhibit strain hardening in uniaxial, monotonic tension accompanied by multiple cracking. The durability of HPFRCC materials under repeated loading makes them potentially suitable for seismic design applications. In this paper, the strain rate dependence of tensile properties of two HPFRCC materials in cylindrical specimens is reported from a larger study on strain rate effects in tension, compression and cyclic tension–compression loading. The cylindrical specimens were loaded in monotonic tension at strain rates ranging from quasi-static to 0.2 s⁻¹. To evaluate the impact of specimen geometry on tensile response, coupon specimens loaded in monotonic tension under a quasi-static strain rate were compared to corresponding cylindrical specimens made from the same batch of material. Tensile strength and ductility of the HPFRCC materials were significantly reduced with increasing strain rate. Multiple cracking, strain hardening, strain capacity, and the shape of the stress–strain response were found to be dependent on specimen geometry. SEM images taken of the fracture plane of several specimens indicated that pullout and fracture of the fibers occurred for both HPFRCC materials studied here.     

Modeling Loading/Unloading Hysteresis Behavior of Unidirectional C/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites

The loading/unloading tensile behavior of unidirectional C/SiC ceramic matrix composites at room temperature has been investigated. The loading/unloading stress–strain curve exhibits obvious hysteresis behavior. An approach to model the hysteresis loops of ceramic matrix composites including the effect of fiber failure during tensile loading has been developed. By adopting a shear-lag model which includes the matrix shear deformation in the bonded region and friction in the debonded region, the matrix cracking space and interface debonded length are obtained by matrix statistical cracking model and fracture mechanics interface debonded criterion. The two-parameter Weibull model is used to describe the fiber strength distribution. The stress carried by the intact and fracture fibers on the matrix crack plane during unloading and subsequent reloading is determined by the Global Load Sharing criterion. Based on the damage mechanisms of fiber sliding relative to matrix during unloading and subsequent reloading, the unloading interface reverse slip length and reloading interface new slip length are obtained by the fracture mechanics approach. The hysteresis loops of unidirectional C/SiC ceramic matrix composites corresponding to different stress have been predicted.     

Correlation of constitutive response of hybrid textile reinforced concrete from tensile and flexural tests

This papers addresses the disparities that exist in measuring the constitutive properties of thin section cement composites using a combination of tensile and flexural tests. It is shown that when the test results are analyzed using a simplified linear analysis, the variability between the results of tensile and flexural strength can be as high as 200–300%. Experimental results of tension and flexural tests of laminated Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) composites with alkali resistant (AR) glass, carbon, aramid, polypropylene textile fabrics, and a hybrid reinforcing system with aramid and polypropylene are presented. Correlation of material properties is studied analytically using a parametric model for simulation of flexural behavior using a closed form solution based on tensile stress–strain constitutive relation. The flexural load carrying capacity of TRC composites is computed using a back-calculation approach, and parameters for a strain hardening material model are obtained using the closed form equations. While the parametric model over predicts the simulated tensile response for carbon and polypropylene TRCs, predictions are however consistent with experimental trends for aramid and glass TRCs. Detailed discussion of the differences between backcalculated and experimental tensile properties is presented. Results can be implemented as average moment–curvature relationship in the structural design and analysis of cement composites.     

短碳纤维的分散性对CFRC力学性能的影响

碳纤维增强水泥基复合材料(CFRC)是一种新型建筑智能材料,碳纤维在水泥基体中的分散性直接影响着它的力学性能.借助超声波和甲基纤维素(MC)分散剂,实现了短碳纤维在水泥基体中的均匀分散,对所制备的CFRC复合材料的断口形貌作了SEM观察;测试了试件的抗压强度、抗拉强度和抗折强度.结果发现,碳纤维均匀分散时,复合材料的抗压强度提高19%,抗拉强度比不加碳纤维时提高2.2倍,弹性模量提高1.4倍.此外,复合材料的抗弯强度、抗折强度均高于未均匀分散时的强度.     

混杂纤维增强应变硬化水泥基复合材料的拉伸本构关系

钢纤维与聚乙烯醇纤维混杂增强应变硬化水泥基复合材料(SF-PVA/SHCC)的力学性能研究是近年来的热点问题之一,但目前依然欠缺能够完整描述SF-PVA/SHCC拉伸本构关系的理论模型。本文基于混凝土断裂力学和细观力学理论,通过考虑拉伸应力-应变曲线软化段及SF-PVA混杂纤维对SHCC拉伸性能的影响,提出一种新的可适用于SF-PVA/SHCC材料的单轴拉伸本构模型。为了验证模型的有效性,开展了SF-PVA/SHCC单轴拉伸性能试验,分析了纤维种类和掺量对SHCC拉伸强度、拉伸应变及拉伸韧性的影响。通过与试验数据对比发现,本文所提出的拉伸本构模型可以较好地预测SF-PVA/SHCC的拉伸应力-应变关系。      

混杂比对碳/芳纶纤维混杂纬编双轴向多层衬纱织物增强复合材料力学性能的影响

利用层内混杂的方式制备碳/芳纶纤维混杂纬编双轴向多层衬纱织物,通过对材料进行拉伸、三点弯曲等实验研究该织物增强复合材料的力学性能及混杂比对其力学性能的影响。结果表明,按照一定的混杂比加入芳纶纤维后复合材料的拉伸性能提高,表现出积极的混杂效应。由于延伸性好的芳纶纤维的加入,使复合材料的拉伸断裂伸长率明显提高,材料破坏模式出现了完全脆性断裂模式(C12材料破坏形式)和“扫帚”形纤维断裂模式(C8A4,C6A6材料破坏形式)。此外,按照一定的混杂比加入芳纶纤维也有效改善了碳纤维增强复合材料的破坏韧性,碳/芳纶纤维混杂MBWK织物增强复合材料的弯曲强度和弯曲模量随混杂比的提高而呈下降趋势,当复合材料中芳纶含量从42%(体积分数,下同)(C6A6)到59.2%(C4A8)的变化过程中,弯曲强度和弯曲模量的降低率较高。0°试样在混杂比为59.2%(C4A8)时,弯曲挠度最大,达到7.49 mm,远高于纯芳纶纤维或纯碳纤维增强的复合材料。所有90°混杂复合材料试样的弯曲挠度均高于纯芳纶纤维或纯碳纤维增强的复合材料,表现出积极的混杂效应。