Characterization of Interlaminar Shear Strength of Ceramic Matrix Composites

The interlaminar shear strengths of three ceramic matrix composites have been characterized using a double-notch shear (DNS) test. The material systems investigated are plain woven C/SiC, plain woven SiC/SiC, and cross-plied SiC/calcium aluminosilicate-II. The use of the double-notch shear test for measuring the interlaminar shear strength of ceramic matrix composites is evaluated first. Numerical stress analyses are performed to investigate the effect of DNS specimen length, notch distance, and specimen supporting jig on the stress distribution in the expected fracture plane and the interlaminar shear strength. The numerical findings are then compared with an analytical model proposed elsewhere and correlated with the experimental results. The validity of this test technique has been established.