Computational Tool For Predicting Ceramic Matrix Composite Responses Based On Manufacturing Effects On The Fiber/Matrix Interphase

ATA Engineering, Inc., in collaboration with COI Ceramics, Inc., (COIC), proposes to develop a computational tool for material process optimization utilizing a multiscale physics-based finite element modeling (FEM) approach and informed by semi-empirical relationships between process parameters and material microstructure, properties, and response. Specifically, the tool will be used to improve ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) to reduce the cost of manufacturing and enhance scalability for production of a notional missile structure or missile structure component. The tool will analytically capture process-dependent changes to the interphase microstructure and how these changes are realized in the mechanical response of a CMC. The proposed process flow will involve explicit modeling of the fiber, matrix, and interphase to capture interplay of constituent morphology and mechanics of a CMC. During the Phase I effort, the project team will examine morphological changes to the interphase of CMC materials as a result of varying heat-treatment conditions and represent these explicit changes to the microstructure with a high-fidelity representative volume element (RVE) FEM. The changes in mechanical properties of the interphase will be realized with changes in the RVE microstructure and implemented in larger-scale simulations of CMC components using an efficient virtual material architecture.