Fatigue and fracture behavior in notched specimens of C/C composite with fine-woven carbon fiber laminates

Fatigue and fracture behavior of C/C composite with fine-woven carbon fiber laminates was investigated in several schemes of notched specimens. Slits and holes were cut in the specimens as notches, and the effect of fiber orientation and notch configuration on the fatigue behavior was examined. The fatigue limit was defined by a simple method that used incremental applied stress and number of cycles. The fatigue limit was dependent on fiber orientation, notch configuration and stress ratio (ratio of minimum cyclic stress to maximum cyclic stress). It was found that the fatigue limit was determined by the true stress rather than by the stress concentration in the present material and was not affected by variations in slit depth. Also, the fracture behavior was controlled by shear deformation.