Micromechanical modeling for the in-plane mechanical behavior of orthogonal three-dimensional woven ceramic matrix composites with transverse and matrix cracking

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are currently being considered for applications in the hot-section components of aviation gas turbines owing to their favorable characteristics. Herein, a micromechanical modeling is presented for orthogonal 3 D woven CMCs under in-plane loading. The three-dimensional effective compliance of the 3 D woven composite was derived using three-dimensional laminate theory and continuum damage mechanics. The damage variables were used to describe the stiffness reduction due to the transverse and matrix cracking in each fiber bundle. The calculation method for the transverse and matrix cracking evolutions under in-plane loading was established by introducing mixed-mode damage criteria. The stress redistribution among the fiber bundles of 3 D woven CMCs due to the fiber/matrix interfacial debonding around matrix cracking was considered to capture the interaction between the matrix and transverse crack evolutions. Additionally, a mesomechanical model comprising finite element analysis and damage mechanics was established to evaluate the stress perturbation due to the geometry of the woven structure. The edge face of the 3 D woven CMC was experimentally observed to measure the transverse and matrix cracks that occurred in each fiber bundle. The transverse and matrix crack densities predicted by the micromechanical and mesomechanical models reasonably agreed with the experimental results up to crack saturation. Furthermore, the micromechanical model reproduced the nonlinear stress–strain response under tensile and shear loading using mixed-mode damage criteria.