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Abstract:
Quasi-static degradation of brittle composites exhibits different mechanical responses under uniaxial tension and uniaxial compression. In this paper, we analysed cracking processes and failure under quasi-static loading of 2 phase ceramic material made of alumina and zirconia mixture, subjected to tension and compression. Constitutive modelling of two-phase ceramic composites obeys description of (1) elastic deformations of initially porous material, (2) limited plasticity and (3) cracks initiation and propagation. Modelling of polycrystalline ceramics at the mesoscopic level under mechanical loading is related to the analysis of a set of grains, which create a so-called Representative Volume Element (RVE). The basic elements of the defect structure inside polycrystal are: micro- and meso-cracks, kinked and wing cracks. To get the macroscopic response of the material one can calculate averaged values of stress and strain over the RSE with the application of an analytical approach. The dynamic degradation process was illustrated for 2 phase ceramic matrix composite and cermet, which was subjected to short compressive impulse. The pulse duration was 10-7s and the applied pressure level - 480 MPa. In the proposed, more advanced finite element formulation of the cermet behaviour is was necessary to take into account the following data and phenomena revealing inside of the RVE: (1) spatial distribution of the cermet constituents, (2) system of grain boundaries/binder interfaces modelled by interface elements, (3) rotation of brittle grains. The cermet response due to pulse loading is significantly different in comparison to the quasi-static behaviour, i.e. the stress distributions and microcracking processes are quite different.

Keywords:
cermets, dynamic behaviour, brittle cracking

Abstract:
Quasi-static degradation of brittle composites exhibits different mechanical response under uniaxial tension and uniaxial compression. In this paper we analysed cracking processes and failure under quasi-static loading of 2 phase ceramic material made of alumina and zirconia mixture, subjected to tension and compression. Constitutive modelling of two phase ceramic composites obeys description of: (1) elastic deformations of initially porous material, (2) limited plasticity and (3) cracks initiation and propagation. Modelling of polycrystalline ceramics at mesoscopic level under mechanical loading is related to analysis of a set of grains, which create so called Representative Volume Element (RVE). The basic elements of the defect structure inside polycrystal are: micro- and meso-cracks, kinked and wing cracks. To get macroscopic response of the material one can calculate averaged values of stress and strain over the RSE with application of analytical approach. Dynamic degradation process was illustrated for 2 phase ceramic matix composite and cermet, which was subjected to short compressive impulse.
The pulse duration was 10-7s and the applied pressure level - 480 MPa. In the proposed more advanced nite elements formulation of the cermet behaviour is was necessary to take into account the following data and phenomena revealing inside of the RVE: (1) spatial distribution of the cermet constituents, (2) system of grain boundaries/binder interfaces modelled by interface elemnets, (3) rotation of brittle grains. The cermet response due to pulse loading is signifcantly different in comparison to the quasistatic behaviour, i.e. the stress distributions and microcracking processes are quite different.

Keywords:
brittle composites, damage, quasi-static behaviour, dynamics, RVE