Frictional Stress Evaluation along the Fiber-Matrix Interface in Ceramic Matrix Composites

A finite element algorithm, developed for frictional contact problems, has been used to evaluate the shear stresses along the fiber-matrix interface in a ceramic composite and the load point fiber displacements dining fiber compression. The induced peak shear stress and the shear stress gradient were found to increase with increasing coefficients of friction. Calculated fiber displacements asymptotically decayed to the perfectly bonded condition as the coefficient of friction was increased. The computed average interfacial shear stress showed remarkable agreement with recent experimental findings hi the SiC-LAS system.