Numerical analysis of mechanical testing for evaluating shear strength of SiC/SiC composite joints

As examples of the most typical methods to determine the shear strength of SiC/SiC composite joints, the asymmetrical four point bending test of a butt-joined composite, the tensile test of a lap-joined composite, and the compression test of a double-notched composite joint were analyzed by using a finite element method with the interface element. From the results, it was found that the shear strength in the asymmetrical bending test was controlled by both the surface energy and the shear strength at the interface regardless of their combination while the strength in the tensile test or the compression test was governed by the surface energy when both the surface energy and the shear strength were large. Also, the apparent shear strength of the composite joint obtained experimentally appeared to be affected by the combination of the surface energy and the shear strength at the interface.