Macrostructural engineering of ceramic-matrix layered composites

A method of computer simulation of the fracture of layered composites durin g a 3-point bending test is developed. A model of failure is considered whi ch can be applied to two-component brittle layered composites (in particula r ceramic-matrix composites). This particular model is executed for composi tes with the number of layers N = 3, 7 and 15. The model is applied for the description of mechanical behaviour of two-component ceramic-matrix layere d composites. The trends of the theoretical calculations agree with data ob tained from 3-point bending test of real ceramic-matrix layered composites. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.