Modified double-notched specimen for ultra-high temperatures shear-strength testing of carbon/carbon composites

Abstract In this paper, a modified double-notched specimen (MDNS) is proposed to investigate shear strength of carbon/carbon composites at ultra-high temperatures. The effects of surplus notch length on distribution of shear stress in the gauge area are studied using finite element method. Both standard Iosipescu method and the MDNS method are used to test shear strength of 3D needled, 3D woven, and 4D woven C/C composites at room temperature. The results are in good agreement with each other. Uniform shear strain is observed using digital image correlation (DIC) technology to confirm the proposed method. Additionally, the shear strength of these three types C/C composites are measured at 2000 °C, 2400 °C, and 2800 °C using the designed testing system. The temperature field at 2000 °C is measured using a thermal imaging system to demonstrate uniform distribution of temperature. The failure mechanisms at ultra-high temperatures are also characterized via optical microscopy.