Characterization of uniaxial compressive response of 3D-net SiC/Zr-based amorphous matrix composites

Uniaxial compressive response of 3D-net SiC/Zr-based amorphous composites was investigated at quasi-static and high strain rates in the range of 10^-3 and 10³ s^-1, by means of WDW-E100D Testing Machine and Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), respectively; the phase structure and failure surfaces were identified by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the samples exhibit elastic deformation followed by catastrophic failure without obvious yielding under compressive loading. The dynamic compressive strength increases with the strain rates increasing, and is little lower than the quasi-static compressive strength 1270 MPa. The failure mode of the composites is a mixture combining splitting and shear fracture, the quasi-statically deformed specimens fractured into several fragments, the dynamically loaded specimens fractured into two or three larger fragments. The microscopic failure modes are typical cleavage fracture of 3D-net SiC and inhomogeneous flow deformation of the amorphous alloys matrix, the fracture surfaces of the amorphous phase become complex in high strain-rate loading.