Micromechanical Modeling for Fatigue Hysteresis Loops of Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic-Matrix Composites Under Multiple Loading Stress Levels

In this paper, the fatigue hysteresis loops of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) under multiple loading stress levels considering interface wear have been investigated using micromechanics approach. Under fatigue loading, fiber/matrix interface shear stress decreases with the increase of cycle number due to interface wear. Upon increasing of fatigue peak stress, the interface debonded length would propagate along the fiber/matrix interface. The difference of interface shear stress existing in the new and original debonded region would affect interface debonding and interface frictional slipping between fibers and matrix. Based on the fatigue damage mechanism of fiber slipping relative to matrix in the interface debonded region upon unloading and subsequent reloading, the interface debonded length, unloading interface counter-slip length and reloading interface new-slip length are determined by fracture mechanics approach. The fatigue hysteresis loop models under multiple peak stress levels have been developed. The effects of fiber volume fraction, fatigue peak stress, matrix crack spacing, interface debonding and interface wear on interface slip and fatigue hysteresis loops have been analyzed.