Monitoring the Fracture Behavior in Ceramic Matrix Composites by Infrared Thermography and Acoustic Emission

In this work an innovative methodology was employed for monitoring the fracture behavior in silicon carbide fiberreinforced ceramic matrix composites. This new methodology was based on the combined use of IR thermography and acoustic emission. Compact tension SiC/BMAS specimens were tested with unloading/reloading loops and the thermal dissipation due to crack propagation and other damage mechanisms was monitored by IR thermography. The accuracy of this technique was benchmarked by optical measurements of crack length. In addition, using acoustic emission descriptors, such as activity during the unloading part of the cycles, provided the critical level of damage accumulation in the material. Acoustic emission allowed to closely follow the actual crack growth monitored by IR thermography, enabling quantitative measurements.