ABSTRACT
Titanium matrix composites (TMC) are currently being developed to meet the increasing requirements of high-speed aerospace vehicles and advanced propulsion systems. Despite the potentially attractive properties of TMCs for high temperature structural applications, much less effort has been directed toward understanding the creep behavior and deformation mechanisms in these materials. Because the stiffness, strength, and creep resistance of the CVD-SiC fibers are significantly higher than those of the titanium alloys, it is expected that the fibers will carry the majority of load during creep loading. The chapter summarizes the current understanding of the creep behavior and deformation mechanisms in fiber-reinforced titanium matrix composites. It discusses the results from experimental investigation that provide insight into the creep response and microstructural damage mode of several fiber-reinforced titanium-based composites. The chapter also reviews micromechanical models proposed for predicting the creep strain and rupture life for TMCs.
