Abstract
The fatigue and fracture behavior of C/C composites fabricated using fine-woven carbon fiber laminates with α=0/90° direction were investigated. The effect of the slit configuration on crack initiation and growth behavior was observed. Specimens with blunt-notches and center-holes were also used to compare the fatigue strength and crack growth behavior. Non- propagating cracks were observed and fatigue limit was defined as the maximum stress at which specimen did not break for N=10^7 cycles stress application. The longest fatigue life was obtained in the case of specimens with shorter slits. The relationships between fatigue strengths and specimen shapes were analyzed by stress concentration, K_t and stress intensity factor, K_I. The effect of slit configuration on fatigue strength was then discussed regarding both the experimental and calculated consequences.
