Abstract
The effect of residual stress on matrix cracking in unidirectional continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites was investigated for both longitudinal and transverse directions with respect to the fiber direction. In particular, the effect of thermal expansion coefficient on the residual stress distribution have been considered. The matrix cracking strength was estimated in case of chemical vapor infiltrated (CVI), hot pressed (HP) and reaction sintered (RS) SiC matrix composite. It was confirmed that the matrix cracking strength was extremely affected by the residual stress distribution. Also, it was shown that in matrices with low Young's modulus and low thermal expansion coefficient in comparison with the fibers, matrix cracking can be prevented.
