Interlaminar Response of LSI-Produced C/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites: Experiments and Modelling

This work investigates the interlaminar properties of a C/SiC composite produced by Liquid Silicon Infiltration, combining experiments based on Double Cantilever Beam tests and numerical analyses. Experimentally, a method to obtain pre-cracks with sharp tips at precise locations is proposed, and specimens with different thickness are used to investigate the effects of bending stress states in the delamination process. The properties of tri-linear Cohesive Zone Models for the modelling of delamination are identified numerically, by using automatic regression techniques without requiring additional assumptions or testing. Fiber bridging effects were observed and modelled, including the evaluation of the process zone lengths with different experimental, analytical, and numerical methods. Overall, the work provides a qualitative insight in the delamination process of long fiber reinforced C/SiC laminates produced with a cost-affordable technique and proposes an experimental and numerical protocol to characterize and model delamination phenomena, taking into account the scattering of material properties.