Strength of SiCf-SiCm composite tube under uniaxial and multiaxial loading

The authors report mechanical strength of nuclear grade silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix composite (SiC_f-SiC_m) tubing under several different stress states. The composite tubing was fabricated via a Chemical Vapor Infiltration (CVI) process, and is being evaluated for accident tolerant nuclear fuel cladding. Several experimental techniques were applied including uniaxial tension, elastomer insert burst test, open and closed end hydraulic bladder burst test, and torsion test. These tests provided critical stress and strain values at proportional limit and at ultimate failure points. Full field strain measurements using digital image correlation (DIC) were obtained in order to acquire quantitative information on localized deformation during application of stress. Based on the test results, a failure map was constructed for the SiC_f-SiC_m composites.