Dynamic Tensile Behavior of Woven C/SiC Composite: Experiments and Strain-Rate-Dependent Yield Criterion

This paper studies the yield behavior of a woven carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon-matrix (C/SiC) composite under dynamic tensile loading. Experiments were carried out to obtain the tensile properties of the C/SiC composite at a strain rate range of 2 × 10(−5)/s to 99.4/s. A strain-rate-dependent yield criterion based on the distortional strain energy density theory is established to describe the yield behavior. The interval uncertainty is considered for a more reliable yield prediction. Experimental results show that the yield stress, elastic modulus, and yield strain of the C/SiC composite grow with the increasing strain rate. The failure mode transitions from progressive crack extension to uneven fiber bundle breakage. The predicted results by the yield criterion match well with experimental data. Experimental results are enveloped within the uncertainty level of 45% in the critical distortional energy density, corresponding to an uncertainty of 14% and 11% in the yield stress and yield strain, respectively. With the support of the proposed strain-rate-dependent yield criterion, the yield behavior of the C/SiC composite under dynamic loading conditions can be predicted with reasonable accuracy.