Evaluation of interfacial fracture toughness of SiC fibre reinforced titanium–matrix composite using pushout test

Abstract

The finite element method based on the equivalent domain integral technique was used to simulate the pushout test and determine the interfacial fracture toughness of SiC fibre reinforced titanium–matrix composites. A special subroutine was introduced while modelling the pushout test to control interfacial failure process. The failure criterion was based on the energy failure criterion. The results showed that the interfacial fracture toughness of SCS-6/Timetal 834 is ∼50 J m⁻². The major contribution to the interfacial fracture toughness comes from thermal residual stresses for SiC reinforced titanium–matrix composites. Moreover, the variations of the energy release rates at both ends of the specimen were analysed.