GEOMETRICAL EFFECT ON DAMAGE IN REACTION BONDED CERAMIC COMPOSITES HAVING EXPERIENCED HIGH STRAIN RATE IMPACT

摘要

Due to their favorable properties, such as high hardness, high stiffness, low density, and multiphase toughening, reactively bonded silicon carbide and boron carbide composites have been used broadly in the armor segment of the ceramic market. The process itself is also favorable when compared with hot-pressing and sintering in that shape complexity is easier to produce. Herein, damage assessment as the result of high strain rate impact is presented utilizing reaction bonded boron carbide/silicon carbide ceramic composites. Several geometries are examined to determine how damage in the ceramic composite phase can be controlled and localized to produce better multi-hit structures. These structures include a solid flat tile as well as tiles with varying geometries, including perforations, protrusions, etc. Damage is characterized using 3D X-ray computed tomographic (CT) imaging techniques and visual analyses. The aim of this study is a correlation between varying geometrical features and damage propagation.