Experimental Study on Low-velocity Impact and Residual Strength of SiC/SiC Composite Laminates

doi:10.15541/jim20230302

Abstract

Abstract:

Low-velocity impact is an inevitable problem in the service of ceramic matrix composites structures in high speed aircraft. Therefore, the damage type and residual bearing capacity after low-velocity impact are critical factors for ensuring the safety of the aircraft structures. In this study, two-dimensional braided SiC/SiC composite laminates were taken as the research objects, and low-speed impact tests under different energies were carried out. The damage morphology of SiC/SiC composites was observed by computed tomography, and the damage mechanism of SiC/SiC composites during the impact process was revealed by analyzing the load history curve and strain history curve. Post-impact residual strength tests were carried out on specimens with barely visible damage and the effect of barely visible damage on the residual strength of SiC/SiC composites was investigated. The results showed that under low-velocity impact load, surface damage of specimens mainly included no surface damage, barely visible damage, semi-penetrating damage and penetrating damage. Internal damage of specimens mainly included cone cracks, yarn breakage and delamination. The residual properties of SiC/SiC composites were found to be severely affected by low velocity impact damage. The residual compressive strength of the specimen with barely visible damage was 81% of that of the undamaged specimens, and the residual tensile strength was only 68% of that of the undamaged specimens.

Key words: SiC/SiC, ceramic matrix composites, low-velocity impact, damage characteristics, residual strength

CLC Number:

TB332

WU Jun, XU Peifei, JING Rui, ZHANG Dahai, FEI Qingguo. Experimental Study on Low-velocity Impact and Residual Strength of SiC/SiC Composite Laminates[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(1): 51-60.

Figures/Tables 16

Fig. 1 Impact position and strain gauge position (a), and picture of the specimen of SiC/SiC laminate (b)

Fig. 2 Impact test machine and specimen fixture

Fig. 3 Size of CAI specimens (a) and TAI reinforcement piece (b)

Fig. 4 Pictures of post-impact compression test system (a) and post-impact tensile test system (b)

Table 1 Impact test arrangement and residual strength test after impact

Impact energy/J	Number of specimen	Residual strength
0	3	TAI
0	3	CAI
3	5	TAI
3	5	CAI
1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20	2	TAI
1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20	2	CAI

Fig. 5 Front (a-e) and back (f-j) damage morphologies of the specimens after being impacted with different energies (a, f) 1 J; (b, g) 3 J; (c, h) 5 J; (d, i) 10 J; (e, j) 20 J

Fig. 6 CT images of the specimens with impact energy of 3 (A) and 5 J (B) along the thickness direction

Fig. 7 CT images of the specimens with impact energy of 3(A) and 5 J(B) along the width direction

Fig. 8 Position diagram of CT images of the specimen along width direction

Fig. 9 Impact responses of SiC/SiC specimen under different impact energy

Fig. 10 Strain-time curves of specimen during the impact process (a) 1 J; (b) 3 J; (c) 4 J; (d) 10 J. Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 11 Impact damage behaviors of SiC/SiC laminates

Fig. 12 Moment of compression fracture of specimen under 3 J impact energy

Table 2 CAI strength of undamaged and BVID specimens

Specimen	Impact energy/J	F_max/kN	CAI strength/MPa
C-0J-1	0	42.18	210.9
C-0J-2	0	37.38	186.9
C-0J-3	0	40.66	203.3
C-3J-1	3	35.13	175.7
C-3J-2	3	34.88	174.4
C-3J-3	3	32.28	166.6
C-3J-4	3	28.34	141.7
C-3J-5	3	31.22	156.1

Fig. 13 Tensile failure morphologies of specimens under different impact energies

Table 3 TAI strength of undamaged and BVID specimens

Specimen	Impact energy/J	F_max/kN	TAI strength/MPa
T-0J-1	0	58.77	146.9
T-0J-2	0	65.94	164.5
T-0J-3	0	71.79	179.5
T-3J-1	3	43.62	109.1
T-3J-2	3	45.16	112.9
T-3J-3	3	43.72	109.3
T-3J-4	3	45.48	113.7
T-3J-5	3	45.01	112.5

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