Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European Journal of Mechanics, A/Solids, cilt.119, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) hold a significant place in advanced engineering applications due to their high melting temperatures, superior chemical stability, and ability to maintain their mechanical properties under extreme environmental conditions. ZrB2–SiC-based composites, which stand out in this class, offer high elastic modulus and oxidation resistance, but have limited damage tolerance due to low fracture toughness. In this study, the effect of short carbon fiber reinforcement on the mechanical behavior of ZrB2–SiC composites was comprehensively evaluated using analytical tools focused on normalized properties, inter-property correlations, and damage tolerance, not only through absolute mechanical values but also through normalized properties, inter-property correlations, and damage tolerance. The elastic modulus, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness were determined for composites with different fiber contents and a fiber-free reference sample, and the obtained values were normalized to the reference condition. Stiffness–toughness and hardness–toughness relationships were analyzed through En–KICn and HVn–KICn correlation graphs, and mechanical regime changes were visually mapped using the En–KICn quadrant diagram. Damage tolerance was quantitatively defined using DTI1 and DTI2 indices, and the marginal effects of fiber content-dependent mechanical response were revealed by sensitivity analysis. The results show that with increasing fiber content, the system shifts from a stiffness-dominant behavior to a more toughness-dominant and damage-tolerant mechanical regime. Still, this improvement occurs at the expense of a decrease in elastic modulus. The presented normalized multi-parameter evaluation approach offers a comparable and design-oriented mechanical performance analysis for short carbon fiber reinforced ZrB2–SiC UHTC composites.