The effects of fabric orientation on the mechanical behavior of a Nicalon~(?)/Alumina composite were investigated. Flexure specimens were subjected to monotonic and cyclic-fatigue loadings, at ambient temperature in air, and at 1000 deg C in argon atmosphere, with loading either parallel or normal to the fabric plies. The flexural strengths at the ambient and elevated temperatures were comparable. However, there was a significant degradation in the fatigue performance of the composite at 1000 deg C compared to the room-temperature behavior, owing to creep in the material and degradation in the fiber strength. The edge-on specimens failed by breakage of the 0 deg fibers. In contrast, failure in the transversely oriented specimens occurred by interlaminar cracking, followed by specimen collapse.
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