Monitoring damage evolution of ceramic matrix composites during tensile tests using electrical resistivity: Crack density-based electromechanical model

Abstract In order to further develop and understand the data provided by electrical resistance measurements, three ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) were characterized in tension. The observed changes of the electrical resistance were compared to the acoustic emission spectra, another commonly used damage monitoring method, as well as the classical interposed unloading/reloading cycles. A model was then proposed in order to predict the evolution of the resistance as a function of the damage state of the three composites. The proposed model provides accurate results for the three materials which, although they all belong to the CMC family, display different mechanical and physical behaviors.