Foreign Object Damage Behavior of a Silicon Carbide Fibrous Ceramic Composite

The response of a silicon carbide (SiC) fibrous ceramic composite to foreign object damage (FOD) was determined at ambient temperature and velocities ranging from 40 to 150 m/s. Target specimens were impacted, at a normal incidence angle and in a partially supported configuration, using 1.59 mm diameter hardened steel ball projectiles. Qualitative analysis of the damage morphologies of targets and projectiles was made via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the extent of impact damage was characterized by determining the post-impact strength of each target specimen as a function of impact velocity. Relative to the as-received (As-R) strength, the fibrous composite showed limited strength degradation due to impact with the maximum reduction of 17% occurring at 150 m/s. A quasi-static analysis of the impact force prediction was also made based on the principle of energy conservation and the results were verified via experimental data.