Adv:. Composite Mate r, Vol 8. No. 1. pp 25-31(1999) O VSP 1999 Designing of textile preforms for ceramic matrix composites SU-WEI CHOU I and RYUTA KAMIYA Center for C ite Materials and Department of Mechanical engineering. University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, US On leave from R&D Center. Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Lid Ohbu, Aichi 474. Japan Abstract--Two and three dimensional fiber preforms produced by textile forming techniques have been used successfully for reinforcing ceramic-based composites. The focus of this paper is on the design of textile preforms for reinforcing ceramic matrix composites. The research work consisted of the following tasks: (I)identification of typical loading conditions on composite structural elements:(2)determination of the requirements on the orientation and volume content of fiber reinforcement:(3)identifying the fiber preforms suitable for each loading condition; (4)identifying the preforming technologies available for producing the preforms: (5)analysis and modeling of the thermo-mechanical behavior of the textile composites, using the concepts of micro- and macro-cells nd (6) characterization of textile composite performance Keywords: Textile preforms; ceramic matrix composites; design; analysis 1 INTRODUCTION Textile structural composites have gained increasing technological importance dur ing the past two decades. Two and three dimensional fiber preforms produced by textile forming techniques have been used successfully for reinforcing polymer- metal-and ceramic-based composites. Textile preforms offer a tremendous oppor tunity of enhancing through-the-thickness stiffness and strength, delamination re- istance and damage tolerance of composites. The potential of near-net-shape man- ufacturing of composites based upon textile preforming is also very attractive [1]. The focus of this presentation is on the design of textile preforms for reinforcing ceramic matrix composites. The research work consisted of the following tasks (1)identification of typical loading conditions on composite structural elements (2)determination of the requirements on the orientation and volume content of fiber reinforcement;(3)identifying the fiber preforms suitable for each loading condition, nd the preforming technologies available for producing the preforms;(4)analysis