Computational Simulation of High-Temperature Metal Matrix Composites Cyclic Behavior

The purpose of the present paper is to describe the computational tool CEMCAN which refers to CEramic Matrix Composite ANalyzer. This computer code is the result of an ongoing research activity in analytical modeling of ceramic matrix composites at NASA-Lewis Research Center. The computer code is based on micromechanics approach and a unique fiber substructuring concept. In this new concept the conventional unit cell (the smallest representative volume element of the composite) of micromechanics approach has been modified by substructuring the unit cell into several slices and developing the micromechanics based equations at the slice level. Also incorporated in the code are nonlinearities in material behavior due to temperature and progressive fracture/degradation of the interphase. The important features of the code and its effectiveness are described herein with select examples. Comparisons of CEMCAN predictions with limited experimental data are also provided.