Analysis of the damage initiation in a SiC/SiC composite tube from a direct comparison between large-scale numerical simulation and synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography

Yang Chen, Lionel Gélébart, Camille Chateau, Michel Bornert, Cédric Sauder, Andrew King

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Damage initiation is an important issue to understand the mechanical behavior of ceramic matrix composites. In the present work, a braided SiC/SiC composite tube was studied by FFT simulation tightly linked with micro-computed tomography (µCT) observations performed during an in situ uniaxial tensile test, which provide both the real microstructure, with a good description of local microstructural geometries, and location of cracks at the onset of damage. The FFT method was proven applicable to tubular structures and efficient to complete the large-scale simulation on a full resolution µCT scan (∼6.7 billion voxels) within a short time. The edge effect due to the numerical periodic boundary conditions prescribed on the real and not rigorously periodic microstructure was quantified. The obtained stress field was compared to the cracks detected by the in situ µCT observations of the same composite tube. This one-to-one comparison showed that cracks preferentially initiated at tow interfaces, where sharp edges of macropores are mostly located and generate stress concentrations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)111-126
Number of pages16
JournalInternational Journal of Solids and Structures
Volume161
Early online date14 Nov 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Ceramic matrix composite
  • Damage initiation
  • FFT simulation
  • In situ tensile test
  • Porosity effect
  • Tomography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Modelling and Simulation
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Applied Mathematics

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