Matrix crack impinging on a frictional interface in unidirectional brittle matrix composites

Abstract The objective of this work is to study the effect of a frictional interface on the extent of interfacial debonding and internal stress distribution within a unidirectional ceramic matrix composite under thermo-mechanical loading. The configuration considered is a concentric cylinder with an annular crack in the axial plane of the matrix while the fiber-matrix interface is made to obey the Coulomb friction law. The present approach of employing a variational model is shown to satisfy all boundary and inequality conditions in the slip and stick regions and at the slip-stick transition point. The results are also shown to be in very good agreement with a numerical elasticity solution for points away from the matrix crack tip while some of the peculiarities near the crack tip associated with the numerical solution are identified.