Effect of stress level on fatigue behavior of 2D C/C composites

Laminated carbon fiber clothes were infiltrated to prepare carbon fiber reinforced pyrolytic carbon (C/C) using isothermal chemical vapor infiltration (CVI). The bending fatigue behavior of the infiltrated C/C composites was tested under two different stress levels. The residual strength and modulus of all fatigued samples were tested to investigate the effect of maximum stress level on fatigue behavior of C/C composites. The microstructure and damage mechanism were also investigated. The results showed that the residual strength and modulus of fatigued samples were improved. High stress level is more effective to increase the modulus. And for the increase of flexural strength, high stress level is more effective only in low cycles. The fatigue loading weakens the bonding between the matrix and fiber, and then affects the damage propagation pathway, and increases the energy consumption. So the properties of C/C composites are improved.