THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FIBER-MATRIX INTERFACE IN SIC REINFORCED GLASS CERAMICS

ALTHOUGH THE USE OF CERAMIC COMPOSITES IN AEROSPACE SYSTEMS IS MONOTONICALLY INCREASING, THERE ARE NOT MANY ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES REVEALING THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THESE MATERIALS CAN PROVIDE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THESE MATERIALS HAVE GREAT PROMISE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDING HOT TURBINE ENGINE COMPONENTS. WHILE FEW FIBER REINFORCED CERAMIC SYSTEMS ARE COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD WITH RESPECT TO FAILURE MODES, LARGE INCREASES IN STRENGTHS AND TOUGHNESS CAN BE REALIZED IF THERE IS BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THESE MECHANISMS. THE BOND STRENGTH BETWEEN THE FIBERS AND THE MATRIX IS AN ESSENTIAL PROPERTY IN ALL COMPOSITE MATERIALS. THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY IS DIRECTED TOWARD THE INVESTIGATION OF INTERFACIAL STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITE. A METHODOLOGY WILL BE DEVELOPED TO STUDY THE INTERFACIAL FAILURE MECHANISMS IN THESE MATERIALS. AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIMENTAL AND ANALYTICAL APPROACH WILL BE FOLLOWED.