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Crack-Wake Plasticity and Time-Dependent Bridging During Subcritical Crack Growth in CVI-SiC Reinforced with Nicalon Fibers

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Plastic Deformation of Ceramics

Abstract

Time-dependent crack growth, referred to as subcriticai crack growth or slow crack growth (SCG), likely controls the long-term life of continuous-fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CFC) structural materials at elevated temperatures. The use of CFCs in systems where long-term stability is required demands resistance to time-dependent crack growth, as well as high-temperature corrosion. Subcriticai crack growth, or static fatigue, in glass1, 2, glass-ceramic3, and monolithic ceramics, such as alumina and silicon carbide4–11, have been extensively studied. Data for crack propagation shown on a log-log plot with crack velocity V as a function of applied stress intensity K typically show three distinct regions, referred to as regions I, II, and III. Region I exhibits a strong dependence of crack velocity on K such that the relationship V = AK n is obeyed once a threshold value of K, denoted as K th , is exceeded. Values of n can range from 4 to 30 or higher and n is a function of temperature, microstructure, and chemical environment.7–11 Higher values of n are associated with increased resistance to crack growth and n decreases with increasing temperature, decreasing grain size, and increasing corrosion rates. Region I behavior can be modeled by reaction rate theory and appears to be reaction rate limited. Region II, in contrast, exhibits a weak dependence on K and is observed in systems where diffusion of a critical chemical species to the crack-tip is rate controlling. Region II is not always observed in ceramics, especially at elevated temperatures.5–10 In region III the crack velocity again depends strongly on K and is, typically, independent of environment as K approaches K C and rapid crack growth ensues. For the majority of ceramics at elevated temperature the entire range of crack propagation can be represented by a single curve obeying V = AK n.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Materials Sciences Department, Battelle Blvd./P8-15, Richland, WA, 99352-0999, USA

    C. H. Henager Jr., R. H. Jones & C. F. Windisch Jr.

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  1. C. H. Henager Jr.
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  2. R. H. Jones
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  3. C. F. Windisch Jr.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

    Richard C. Bradt

  2. University of Hull, Hull, England

    Chris A. Brookes

  3. Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, USA

    Jules L. Routbort

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Henager, C.H., Jones, R.H., Windisch, C.F. (1995). Crack-Wake Plasticity and Time-Dependent Bridging During Subcritical Crack Growth in CVI-SiC Reinforced with Nicalon Fibers. In: Bradt, R.C., Brookes, C.A., Routbort, J.L. (eds) Plastic Deformation of Ceramics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1441-5_55

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1441-5_55

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1443-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1441-5

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