Probabilistic analysis of creep of metal-matrix composites

In this paper, a probabilistic model is developed to evaluate the creep reliability of metal-matrix composites under constant loading. The scatter of fiber strength and the randomness in elastic moduli of the matrix and the fibers are incorporated into the model for failure prediction of the composite material due to creep. Time-dependent reliability is evaluated at different service life times. The effect of broken fibers on the failure of the composite is included. The first-order reliability method (FORM) is used to evaluate the reliability. The proposed probabilistic analysis of the composite due to creep is demonstrated with a numerical example. The effects of different random variables on the failure probability are investigated.