Abstract
This paper presents fracture toughnesses of 2-D carbon-carbon composites using compact tension specimens. Purpose of this study to evaluate the fracture toughness of the C/C composite based on a linear fracture mechanics. The crack growth resistance curves are obtained using a compliance matching method. As a result, the R-curves of the C/C composite are characterized by a rapid increase in the crack growth resistance at the initial stage and a distinct in the final stage. It is found that fracture toughness in the C/C composite is greatly influenced by a crack front region which is formed by a micro-crak and /or an interfacial delamination. In order to explain the unloading and the reloading stage of the load-displacement curves, a fracture model in the C/C composite is proposed.
