Paper number 788

FATIGUE PROPAGATION OF A BRIDGED CRACK IN FIBRE-REINFORCED COMPOSITES

P. Levasseur , P. Paulmier , J.F. Maire , and J.L. Chaboche

Department of Mechanics, Office National d'Etudes et de recherche Aérospatiale
29 Avenue de la Division Leclerc, 92322 Châtillon, France

Summary

A model for fatigue crack with bridged fibers has been developed. It is based on the determination of the closure pressure exerted by the fibers. It reduces substantially the matrix crack growth. Two scales have been modeled to obtain its expression. At the lower scale, pertinent interfacial properties have been described such as debonding and friction. Furthermore, an application is proposed from a fatigue test on Sic/Ti. It has been performed on a center-notched specimen from which the crack growth has been accurately calculated. The abilities of this model are in agreement to the different experimental stages. He offers promising prospects to find optimal interfacial properties and to establish a propagation law for bridged cracks.

Keywords

fatigue propagation, bridged crack, multi-scale model, interface, debonding, friction, fiber-reinforced composite.