Multi-scale damage modeling of 3D ceramic matrix composites from in-situ X-ray tensile tests

SiC/SiC composites are actively developed to be used in hot parts of civil aircraft engines to improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact. To understand and to predict the location of damage in such materials is critical. The present paper proposes a multi-scale finite element modeling strategy to simulate the onset of damage at the mesoscopic scale. Virtual tests are carried out at the microscopic scale on representative microstructures to identify the homogenized mechanical properties and continuum damage laws of the yarns. Transverse cracks are then simulated at the mesoscopic scale on 3D meshes generated directly from X-ray synchrotron micro-tomography (µCT) images. Predicted damage events are successfully compared to those obtained experimentally on the same specimen during in-situ tensile tests. Since only physical parameters at the constituent scale are required, such an integrated approach could offer the opportunity to design and optimize numerically the material to delay the initiation of critical damage events.