Damage evolution and distribution of interpenetrating phase composites under dynamic loading

The objective of this paper is to investigate the damage evolution of ceramic-metal interpenetrating phase composite (IPC) under dynamic loading. Uniaxial dynamic compression loading was performed to characterize the failure of SiC3D/Al composite with 20% porosity using a modified Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB). A micro CT technology is utilized to acquire SiC skeleton scanning images. 3D FE (finite element) model of SiC3D/Al was generated and was applied based on the experimental data. SEM and computer simulation results were employed to study the damage evolution in IPC. The experimental and simulation results demonstrated that there were double cones formed within the IPC cylinder without lateral confinement under uniaxial dynamic compression. The damage initiation and damage extension direction were determined by the shear stress. The synergistic mechanical constraint effect provided by the interpenetrating metal and ceramic phase conduced the fracture cone feature, which was significantly different from the splitting feature of ceramic materials. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.