A mixed XFEM and CZM approach for predicting progressive failure in advanced SiC/SiC CMC component

• Published in: Composites. Part C, Open access Vol. 9; p. 100325
• Main Authors: Patel, Amit, Sato, Eiichi, Shichijo, Naohiro, Hirata, Ichiro, Takagi, Takeshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: 1st cracking; CZM; Delamination; FEM; SiC/SiC CMC; XFEM; SiC/SiC CMC; Delamination; 1st cracking; CZM; FEM; XFEM
• ISSN: 2666-6820; 2666-6820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomc.2022.100325

•Extended finite element method (XFEM) and cohesive element (CE) methodology were used to simulate different fracture modes in SiC/SiC CMC.•Matrix-cracking phenomenon was dependent on XFEM damage criteria.•Serrations in force-displacement curves due to delamination in CE layers matched the experimental results. This research work focused on simulating different fracture modes in the high-stress concentrated region of an advanced SiC/SiC CMC component at the macroscopic scale in consideration of increasing cost and time during experimental tests of CMCs. A hybrid of extended-finite-element-method (XFEM) and cohesive-zone-modeling (CZM) was utilized to predict mode-I and mode-II fracture behavior, respectively. The cohesive element (CE) layers were used as fiber-tow interfaces in the stress-concentrated region where mode-II failure was supposed to occur. The 1st crack initiation and its further propagation were found to be dependent on XFEM damage criteria, whereas delamination was observed at the damage-front CE layers. The simulated force-displacement relationships were compared with the experimental ones, where stiffness and serrations in the force-displacement curve corresponding to the delamination matched quite well. With concern to predicting the fracture behavior in a complex-shape component of SiC/SiC CMCs, XFEM with CZM methodology can be a reliable method in the near future. [Display omitted]