METHODOLOGY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE INTERFACIAL PROPERTIES OF BRITTLE-MATRIX COMPOSITES

The interfacial properties of a glass-ceramic matrix composite (SiC/CA S) were determined from single-fibre push-out tests using the interfac ial test system. The coefficient of friction, mu, the residual clampin g stress, sigma(c), and fibre axial residual stress, sigma(z), were ex tracted by fitting the experimental stress versus fibre-end displaceme nt curves using the models of Hsueh, and Kerans and Parthasarathy. Usi ng Hsueh's model, the intrinsic interfacial frictional stress (tau = m u sigma(c)) was found to be 11.1 +/- 3.2 MPa, whereas by using Kerans- Parthasarathy's model it was found to be 8.2 +/- 1.5 MPa. Comparisons between these models are included, together with a discussion of data analysis techniques.