Measurement of thermal expansion of ceramic matrix composite tubes at temperatures up to 1400 °C

A newly developed method using a computer-vision technique for digital image correlation which can measure full-field three-dimensional surface deformations at various temperatures was used for measuring the thermal expansion behaviour of C/SiC (carbon-reinforced silicon carbide) tubes. Samples were subjected to thermal expansion only and investigated at temperatures from ambient temperatures up to 1400 °C. Results are presented which show that the digital image correlation technique remains fully capable within this temperature range, providing accurate measurement of the displacements and strains of the cylinders.