A Monte Carlo simulation of damage and failure process with crack saturation for unidirectional fiber reinforced ceramic composites

Abstract By using specific interface elements of orthotropic elastic–perfect plastic materials incorporating the interfacial friction, a meso-Monte Carlo 2D finite element model with large-fine mesh was built to simulate the deformation, damage, and failure process of unidirectional fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites (FCRMCs) under tensile loading. The numerical simulation by ABAQUS/Standard can provide stress–strain curve and the meso-crack evolution process from deformation, damage to the ultimate failure of FRCMCs accompanied with damage mode of matrix crack saturation. The damage evolution process begins with the failure of low-strength fiber or matrix elements, which is called “crack source”, and then the “crack sources” extend to become the “matrix cracks” or “through matrix cracks”. Because of interface sliding, there forms an exclusion zone in the vicinity of each matrix crack. When all these exclusion zones overlap, matrix crack saturation occurs. Then the fiber elements bear the subsequent loads. Catastrophic composite failure occurs when there are enough failed fiber elements. Similar to the mechanical behavior of elastic–plastic materials, yielding segment, hardening segment can be found in the macro-stress–strain curve, which is in agreement with experiments qualitatively. The necessity of developing larger model is specially stressed.