Mechanical properties of SiC/SiC braided tubes for fuel cladding

Axial and hoop tensile tests are performed at room temperature on SiC fiber CVI matrix tubular samples. A layer-to-layer interlock 3D braided preform is used. An elastic damageable mechanical behavior resulting from the development of matrix and delamination cracks is evidenced. A weaker behavior is observed in the hoop direction as a consequence of the geometry of the fibrous preform. It is shown that a numerical approach can be used to establish a link between the mechanical behavior and the microstructure of the composite.