An experimental investigation was performed to study the rate at which strength-controlling fatigue damage evolves in a ceramic-matrix composite. Tensile specimens of a unidirectional SiC-fiber-reinforced calcium aluminosilicate matrix composite were cycled to failure or to a preselected number of cycles under similar loading histories. The residual strength of the precycled specimens was found to be similar to that of virgin specimens. Microstructural investigations showed that the Fracture surfaces of the specimens cycled to failure had a central region where fiber pullout was negligible. It is proposed that frictional heating (due to interfacial sliding) is the cause of fatigue failure. High interfacial temperatures are assumed to cause the formation of a strong interface bond, leading to internal embrittlement.