Characterization of cyclic fatigue hysteresis behavior of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites using inverse tangent modulus

Under cyclic fatigue loading, hysteresis loops appear in fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) due to composite’s internal damage mechanisms. Loading/unloading inverse tangent modulus (ITMs) of the hysteresis loops reflect the composite’s internal damage state and can be used an effective tool to monitor composite’s fatigue damage evolution and fracture. In this paper, characterization of cyclic fatigue hysteresis loops of CMCs using ITMs are investigated. Loading/unloading ITMs are derived using a micromechanical hysteresis constitutive model considering fatigue damage mechanisms of matrix cracking, interface debonding, wear and slip, and fiber’s failure. Relationships between composite’s fatigue hysteresis loops, ITMs and interface slip state (i.e., interface reverse slip ratio (IRSR) and interface new slip ratio (INSR)) are established. Experimental fatigue hysteresis loops, ITMs, and IRSR/INSR of cross-ply SiC/CAS and SiC/MAS composites from the literature are predicted, and the effects of fiber’s volume fraction, matrix crack spacing, and interface debonding energy on composite’s fatigue hysteresis loops, ITMs, and IRSR/INSR are analyzed.