A study of the erosive wear behaviour of continuous fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composites

• Published in: Acta materialia 1997, Vol.45 (1), p.321-330
• Main Authors: Powell, K.L., Yeomans, J.A., Smith, P.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Exact sciences and technology; Fatigue, brittleness, fracture, and cracks; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; Mechanical properties of solids; Physics
• ISSN: 1359-6454; 1873-2453
• DOI: 10.1016/S1359-6454(96)00144-9

Observations of indentation-induced fracture in calcium alumino-silicate (CAS)/Nicalon composites have been made using confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). This technique provided a rapid, non-destructive analysis of the subsurface lateral fracture events associated with Vickers profile indentations. At any load, the area of these lateral cracks is proportional to the area bound by neighbouring fibres and the indentation impression. Moreover, at each load, there is a critical distance between the indentation and neighbouring fibres beyond which lateral cracks do not form. This is consistent with prior analyses of residual thermoelastic stresses in this system. These empirical data were used to formulate a simple model of the wear of a number of microstructures. Results of laboratory-scale erosion tests were consistent with the predictions based on indentation fracture observations.