Tensile Behavior of Microcracking SiC-TiB_2 Composites

The stress-strain behavior of microcracking SIC-TIB_2 composites was studied using uniaxial tensile tests. The nonlinear stress-strain behavior provided the critical stresses for microcracking (defined as the proportional limit) and the magnitude of residual strain release as a consequence of stress-induced microcracking. The release of residual strain was confirmed using the loading-unloading process. Both the critical stress for the nonlinear stress-strain curve and the release of residual strain mere used to establish the maximum principal stress as the stress criterion for microcracking.