Application and theoretical analysis of C/SiC composites based on continuum damage mechanics

Based on the thermodynamic theory, an orthotropic damage constitutive model was developed to describe the nonlinear mechanical behavior of C/SiC composites. The different nonlinear kinematic and isotropic hardening functions were adopted to describe accurately the damage evolution processes. The damage variables were defined with the damaged modulus and the initial undamaged modulus on energy equivalence principle. The initial orthotropy and damage coupling were presented in the damage yield function. Tensile and in-plane shear loading and unloading tests were performed, and a good agreement between the model and the experimental results was achieved.