Fatigue Damage Modeling and Life Prediction of Titanium Matrix Composites

Abstract

The evolution of microstructural damage during fatigue loading, which includes matrix cracking, interfacial debonding, and fiber fracture results in the progressive degradation of mechanical properties of the fiber-reinforced titanium matrix composites. A mechanism-based fatigue life prediction methodology was developed to simulate the evolution of fatigue damage, degradation of mechanical properties, and distribution of fatigue lives under various applied stress levels. The simulated matrix crack propagation rates, residual stiffness, residual tensile strength, and fatigue life are also correlated with experimental results.