Research Article

Effects of Nonuniform Fiber Geometries on the Microstructural Fracture Behavior of Ceramic Matrix Composites

Figure 11

Example of a traction separation law governing Mode I crack (normal to the crack surface) opening behavior. is the characteristic element length, is the cohesive strength at the crack initiation, and is the fracture toughness at the current loading status. Note that the critical fracture toughness can be obtained from the area under the curve, .