./. Appl. Ceram. Technol, 7/3/276-290(2010) DO:10IJI174-7402.200902422x International Journal o pplied Ceramic TECHNOLOGY ceramic Product D Effects of Fiber Architecture on Matrix Cracking for Melt-Infiltrated SiC/SiC Composites Ohio Aerospace Institute, 22800 Cedar Point Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44142 James A DiCarlo and James D. Kiser NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44135 Hee Mann Yun Matech GSM, 31304 Via Colinas, Suite 102, Westlake Village, California 91362 The matrix cracking behavior of slurry cast melt-infiltrated SiC matrix composites consisting of Sylramic-iBN fibers with wide variety of fiber architectures were compared. The fiber architectures included 2D woven, braided, 3D orthogonal, and angle interlock architectures. Acoustic emission was used to monitor in-plane matrix cracking during unload-reload tensile tests. Two key parameters were found to control matrix-cracking behavior: the fiber volume fraction in the loading direction and the area of the weakest portion of the structure, that is, the largest tow in the architecture perpendicular to the loading direction. Empirical models that support these results are presented and discussed. Introduction originally started as a NASA Glenn IRD Project and was continued Silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide ce- under NASA's ARMD Supersonics program. ramic matrix composites (SiC/SiC CMC)are actively be ing pursued for high-temperature structural applications No daim to U.S. Government works. gine combustor liners, turbine components,Effects of Fiber Architecture on Matrix Cracking for Melt-Infiltrated SiC/SiC Composites Gregory N. Morscher* Ohio Aerospace Institute, 22800 Cedar Point Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44142 James A. DiCarlo and James D. Kiser NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44135 Hee Mann Yun Matech GSM, 31304 Via Colinas, Suite 102, Westlake Village, California 91362 The matrix cracking behavior of slurry cast melt-infiltrated SiC matrix composites consisting of Sylramic-iBN fibers with a wide variety of fiber architectures were compared. The fiber architectures included 2D woven, braided, 3D orthogonal, and angle interlock architectures. Acoustic emission was used to monitor in-plane matrix cracking during unload–reload tensile tests. Two key parameters were found to control matrix-cracking behavior: the fiber volume fraction in the loading direction and the area of the weakest portion of the structure, that is, the largest tow in the architecture perpendicular to the loading direction. Empirical models that support these results are presented and discussed. Introduction Silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide ce￾ramic matrix composites (SiC/SiC CMC) are actively be￾ing pursued for high-temperature structural applications such as engine combustor liners, turbine components, Int. J. Appl. Ceram. Technol., 7 [3] 276–290 (2010) DOI:10.1111/j.1744-7402.2009.02422.x Ceramic Product Development and Commercialization Funding for this work originally started as a NASA Glenn IRD project and was continued under NASA’s ARMD Supersonics program. *gregory.n.morscher@nasa.gov Journal compilation r 2009 The American Ceramic Society No claim to U.S. Government works