Abstract:

The acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of C/SiC composite component under various conditions were compared, with the purpose of identifying the possible damage and failure mechanism. During the process of the single mechanical loading, the highest amplitude of the AE signal was less than 85 dB and the main damage forms of matrix cracking and interface debonding were involved. For the heating process, high-energy AE signals with an amplitude more than 85 dB were detected and fiber fracture mechanism was determined as well due to the thermal stress caused by the mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficient between the reinforced fiber and matrix. During the combination process of the heating and mechanical loading, it was concluded that the degree of damage was much severer than the simple superposition of damage produced by the individual mechanical loading and the individual heating process.

Key words: C/SiC composite, Damage and failure, Heating, Mechanical loading, Acoustic emission