Uni-axial stress–strain response and thermal conductivity degradation of ceramic matrix composite fibre tows.

A physical model, previously developed by one of the authors, has been extended to cover thermal conductivity degradation owing to the uni-axial stress–strain response of aligned groups of fibres or tows found in ceramic matrix composites. Both the stress–strain and thermal models, together with their coupling, have been shown to predict known composite behaviour qualitatively. The degradation of longitudinal thermal properties is shown to be driven by strain-controlled fibre failure; while the degradation of transverse thermal properties is because of the growth of fibre–matrix interface wake-debonded cracks, coupled with strain-driven fibre failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]