Effects of Temperature and Oxidation on Cyclic-Fatigue Life of 2D Woven Ceramic-Matrix Composites

In this paper, the effects of temperature and oxidation on cyclic-fatigue life of two dimensional (2D) woven SiC/SiC ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) have been investigated. The relationships between fatigue life, fibers failure, interface shear stress and fibers strength degradation, temperature, and oxidation have been established using micromechanical approach. The tension-tension fatigue life S-N curves of 2D SiC/SiC composite at room and elevated temperatures in moisture, argon, air, and steam have been predicted. It was found that the presence of steam causes accelerated damage evolution and degradation in fatigue life compared with that in air.