A thermomechanical fatigue hysteresis-based damage evolution model for fiber-reinforced ceramic–matrix composites

In this paper, a thermomechanical fatigue hysteresis-based damage evolution model for fiber-reinforced ceramic–matrix composites has been developed. Upon unloading and reloading, the fiber/matrix interface debonded length, interface counter-slip length, and interface new-slip length change with increasing or decreasing applied stress, which affects the stress–strain fatigue hysteresis loops and fatigue hysteresis-based damage parameters. The reloading/unloading stress–strain relationships when fiber/matrix interface partially or completely debonding are determined as a function of interface debonding/sliding, peak stress, applied cycle number, and thermal cycle temperature. The relationships between thermomechanical fatigue loading parameters (i.e. peak stress, applied cycle number, and thermal cyclic temperature), fiber/matrix interface debonding/sliding lengths, and fatigue hysteresis-based damage parameters (i.e. fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy, fatigue hysteresis modulus, and fatigue peak strain) have been established. The effects of fiber volume fraction, peak stress, matrix cracking space, and thermal cyclic temperature range on damage evolution under the out-of-phase thermomechanical cyclic loading have been discussed. The differences in damage evolution between in-phase/out-of-phase thermomechanical fatigue and isothermal fatigue loading at the same peak stress have been analyzed. The damage evolution of cross-ply SiC/magnesium aluminosilicate composite under the out-of-phase thermomechanical and isothermal fatigue loading has been predicted.