Delamination Cracking in a Laminated Ceramic-Matrix Composite

Delamination crack propagation has been investigated in a laminated fiber‐reinforced ceramic‐matrix composite. The crack growth initiation resistance has been shown to be dominated by the critical strain energy release rate for the matrix. However, the resistance increases with crack extension because of bridging effects associated with intact fibers and, in some cases, intact segments of matrix. The delamination cracks also assume a steady‐state trajectory within a 0° layer close to the 0°/90° interface.