Theoretical simulation and experimental verification of C/SiC joints with pins or bolts

C/SiC joints with pins or bolts were prepared by reaction joining process combined with precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process. The influences of hole parameters including ratios of edge distance to diameter (E/D), width to diameter (W/D) and hole distance to diameter (H/D), on the mechanical properties of C/SiC substrates were studied by theoretical simulation and experimental methods. The results show that the experimental fracture loads and damage modes are consistent with the theoretical simulation values, and when E/D ⩾ 3, W/D ⩾ 3 and H/D ⩾ 3 the effect of drilling on the mechanical properties of substrates could be neglected. More, the amendatory theoretical simulation can effectively predict the bearing loads and damage modes of the joints with different joining method (⩽13% of the error), which could provide theoretical guidance for the engineering application. The bearing loads of C/SiC joints increase almost linearly with the increase of number of C/SiC pins or bolts, and accordingly the damage mode changes from the pin/bolt rupture to the substrate rupture, thus the reliability of joints is also improved.