2D Plain and 3D Needle-punched C/SiC Composites: Low-velocity Impact Damage Behavior and Failure Mechanism

doi:10.15541/jim20240269

Abstract

Abstract:

Continuous carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composites are often subjected to low-velocity impacts when utilized as structural materials for thermal protection. However, research on in-plane impact damage and multiple impact damage of C/SiC composites is limited. To investigate the in-plane impact damage behavior of C/SiC composites, a drop-weight impact test method was developed for strip samples, and these results were subsequently compared with those of C/SiC composite plates. Results show that the in-plane impact behavior of C/SiC strip samples is similar to that of C/SiC composite plates. Variation of the impact load with displacement is characterized by three stages: a nearly linear stage, a severe load drop stage, and a rebound stage where displacement occurs after the impact energy exceeds its peak value. Impact damage behavior under single and multiple impacts on 2D plain and 3D needled C/SiC composites was investigated at different impact energies and durations. Crack propagation in C/SiC composites was studied by computerized tomography (CT) technique. In the 2D plain C/SiC composite, load propagation between layers is hindered during impact, leading to delamination and 90° fiber brittle fracture. The crack length perpendicular to the impact direction increases with impact energy increases, resulting in more serious 0° fiber fracture and a larger area of fiber loss. In the 3D needled C/SiC composite, load propagates between the layers during impact through the connection of needled fibers. The fibers continue to provide substantial structural support, with notable instances of fiber pull-off and debonding. Consequently, the impact resistance is superior to that of 2D plain C/SiC composite. When the 3D needled C/SiC composite undergoes two successive impacts of 1.5 J, the energy absorption efficiency of the second impact is significantly lower, accompanied by a smaller impact displacement. Moreover, the total energy absorption efficiency of these two impacts of 1.5 J is lower than that of a single 3.0 J impact.

Key words: ceramic-matrix composite, fracture, low-velocity impact, computerized tomography analysis

CLC Number:

TB332

LUAN Xingang, HE Dianwei, TU Jianyong, CHENG Laifei. 2D Plain and 3D Needle-punched C/SiC Composites: Low-velocity Impact Damage Behavior and Failure Mechanism[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(2): 205-214.

Figures/Tables 14

Fig. 1 Picture of notched samples

Fig. 2 Impact response of a 3D sample subjected to 1.5 J impact (a) Displacement-load curve; (b) Energy-time curve. Colorful figures are available on website

Table 1 Energy absorption of sample

Sample	Impact energy/J	E_r/%	E_tr/%	Δh/mm	Case of sample fracture
2D	1.0	96.93		1.123	Broken
	1.5	96.01		1.379	Broken
	2.0	89.08		2.458	Broken
3D	1.5	96.98		1.155	Unbroken
	1.5(1)*	96.98	88.11	1.155	Unbroken
	1.5(2)*	80.55	88.11	0.724	Broken
	3.0	87.15		1.997	Unbroken
	3.0	91.54		1.873	Broken

Fig. 3 Macroscopic morphology of samples From left to right, 2D-1.0J, 2D-1.5J, 2D-2.0J, 3D-1.5J, 3D-2×1.5J (broken), 3D-2×1.5J (unbroken), 3D-3.0J (broken), and 3D-3.0J (unbroken)

Fig. 4 Phase and pore analyses of samples using CT technique before impact (Grey for C-fiber bundles, light blue for SiC matrix, red for large pores, dark blue for small pores) Phase (a) and pore (c) analyses of the 2D C/SiC composite: (a1, c1) XY plane, (a2, c2) YZ plane, (a3, c3) XZ plane, and (a4, c4) stereogram; Phase (b) and pore (d) analyses of the 3D C/SiC composite: (b1, d1) XY plane, (b2, d2) YZ plane, (b3, d3) XZ plane, and (b4, d4) stereogram. Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 5 (a) Energy-time curves and (b) displacement-load curves of samples at an impact energy of 1.5 J Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 6 CT photographs of the appearance of fractured C/SiC samples after impact 2 D C/SiC composite: (a) stereoscopic view, (b) YZ plane, and (c) XZ plane;3D C/SiC composite: (d) stereoscopic view, (e) YZ plane, and (f) XZ plane

Fig. 7 Fracture morphologies of samples after impact (a, b) Sample 2D-2.0J-1; (c, d) Sample 3D-3.0J-1

Fig. 8 Energy-time curves and displacement-load curves of 3D C/SiC composite with different impact energies Energy-time: (a) 2×1.5 J and (b) 3.0 J; Displacement-load: (c) 2×1.5 J and (d) 3.0 J

Fig. 9 CT scan results of 3D C/SiC composite after impact XY plane: (a) 1.5 J, (d) 3.0 J, and (g) 2×1.5 J; YZ plane: (b) 1.5 J, (e) 3.0 J, and (h) 2×1.5 J; XZ plane: (c) 1.5 J, (f) 3.0 J, and (i) 2×1.5 J

Fig. 10 Energy-time curves (a-c) and displacement-load (d-f) curves of 2D C/SiC composite with different impact energies of 1.0 J (a, d), 1.5 J (b, e), and 2.0 J (c, f)

Fig. 11 CT scan results of 2D C/SiC composite after impact XY plane: (a) 1.0, (d) 1.5, and (g) 2.0 J; YZ plane: (b) 1.0, (e) 1.5, and (h) 2.0 J; XZ plane: (c) 1.0, (f) 1.5, and (i) 2.0 J

Fig. 12 Fracture morphologies of 2D C/SiC composite at different energies (a, b, e) 1.0 J; (c) 1.5 J; (d, f) 2.0 J

Table S1 Impact energy absorption for all samples

Sample	Number	Impact energy/J	E_r/%	E_tr/%	Δh/mm	Case of sample fracture
2D	1	1.0	97.69		1.289	Broken
	2	1.0	96.93		1.123	Broken
	3	1.0	92.13		1.045	Broken
	1	1.5	96.01		1.379	Broken
	2	1.5	98.58		1.410	Broken
	3	1.5	93.67		2.737*	Broken
	1	2.0	80.79		3.175	Broken
	2	2.0	98.69		3.166	Broken
	3	2.0	89.08		2.458	Broken
3D	1	1.5	91.35		2.277	Unbroken
	2	1.5	97.58		1.188	Unbroken
	3	1.5	96.98		1.155	Unbroken
	1	1.5	98.15	89.72	2.725*	Unbroken
	1	1.5	80.88	89.72	0.754	Broken
	2	1.5	93.60	86.01	1.008	Unbroken
	2	1.5	78.36	86.01	0.712	Unbroken
	3	1.5	96.98	88.11	1.155	Unbroken
	3	1.5	80.55	88.11	0.724	Broken
	1	3.0	95.73		2.212	Unbroken
	2	3.0	87.15		1.997	Unbroken
	3	3.0	91.54		1.873	Broken

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