Matrix cracking and stress strain behaviour of continuous fibre ceramic composite laminates.

Matrix damage and its effects on mechanical properties have been examined for SiC (Nicalon1) fibre reinforced glass and glass ceramic matrix composites under quasi-static and fatigue loading conditions. Nicalon/Pyrex laminates of different lay-ups have been tested under quasi-static tension. The elastic moduli have been measured and matrix damage monitored as a function of applied strain. The mechanical properties are strongly influenced by the presence of crystalline regions in the matrix which promote microcracking. Laminated plate theory is used to provide bounds to the moduli of the laminates. For unidirectional and simple crossply Nicalon/CAS2 laminates the quasi-static stress/strain behaviour and associated matrix damage accumulation have been examined in detail. The damage development with applied stress was quantified by counts of crack density (in both longitudinal and transverse plies), stiffness loss and cumulative residual strain. The quasi static stress/strain behaviour during continuous tests (accumulating damage) and discontinuous tests (constant damage) have been modelled using a stress analysis based on Aveston, Cooper and Kelly (ACK) theory. The continuous stress/strain behaviour of (0/90) crossply laminates has been modelled using a shear-lag analysis developed previously to describe the transverse ply cracking behaviour of polymer matrix composites. The analysis is modified to account for longitudinal ply cracking. Matrix damage development in unidirectional and (0/90) crossply laminates under quasistatic cycling and high frequency fatigue loading have been studied. For unidirectional laminates stable stress/strain hysteresis loops were obtained during quasi-static cycling, corresponding to stable matrix damage states. These and similar loops obtained after high frequency fatigue are modelled using, the discontinuous stress/strain analysis. It is suggested that the effect of high frequency fatigue is to decrease the interfacial shear strength