Influence of fiber and grain bridging on crack profiles in SiC fiber-reinforced alumina-matrix composites

Initial crack extension and crack propagation in sintered SiC fiber reinforced alumina matrix composites were observed in situ in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). In these composites, coupled toughening mechanisms associated with both grain and fiber bridging are operative in the crack wake. Their contribution to toughness were obtained from crack profiles measured in the crack wake at various applied loads and crack lengths. The crack profiles of the fiber reinforced samples reveal much smaller crack opening displacements compared to the monolithic samples. The fibers act as ligaments which bridge and thereby exert closure stresses on the crack surfaces. The profiles revealed pronounced reduction in the crack opening displacement (COD) around the fiber positions. Accordingly, grain bridging in the vicinity of the fibers was still operative up to an applied stress intensity factor of 5.7 MPa m1/2 which is 30% above the maximum toughness that could be obtained with the monolithic samples for the same crack length.