Stress field and damage evolution in C/SiC woven composites: Image-based finite element analysis and in situ X-ray computed tomography tests

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 2323 - 2334
• Main Authors: Ai, Shigang, Song, Weili, Chen, Yanfei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2021
• Subjects: C/SiC composite; CT real-time quantitative imaging; Image-based finite element method; In situ nanomechanical test; X-ray microtomography; In situ nanomechanical test; Image-based finite element method; CT real-time quantitative imaging; X-ray microtomography; C/SiC composite
• ISSN: 0955-2219; 1873-619X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.12.026

The construction and examination of meso-structural finite element models of a Chemical-Vapor-Infiltrated (CVI) C/SiC composite is carried out based on X-ray microtomography digital images (IB-FEM). The accurate meso-structural features of the C/SiC composites, which are consisted of carbon fiber tows and CVI-SiC matrix, in particular the cavity defects, are reconstructed. With the IB-FEM, the damage evolution and fracture behaviors of the C/SiC composite are investigated. At the same time, an in situ tensile test is applied to the C/SiC composite under a CT real-time quantitative imaging system, aiming to investigate the damage and failure features of the material as well as to verify the IB-FEM. The IB-FEM results indicate that material damage initially occur at the defects, followed by propagating toward the fiber-tow/SiC-matrix interfaces, ultimately, combined into macro-cracks, which is in good agreement with the in situ CT experiment results.