COHESIVE ZONE APPROACH TO INTERPRETING THE FIBER PUSH-OUT TEST

A means of inferring interface parameters from the fiber push-out test is proposed. The significant feature of the approach is the use of a cohesive zone model to capture fiber-matrix interfacial debonding. The approach is used to interpret push-out data obtained from silicon car bide/silicon nitride composites. Comparisons are made with other analy ses and with other interface models. It is shown that this approach ma y be particularly useful for composites in which there is substantial interfacial roughness, but little or no chemical cohesion. The advanta ge of the cohesive zone model in being able to predict the existence o f qualitatively different load-displacement curves associated with dif ferent specimen thicknesses is emphasized.