Transformation Toughening in Zirconia-Enriched Composites: Micromechanical Modeling

摘要

The paper presents a micromechanical model to describe the effects of the mismatch in material properties and micro-stress concentration on the mechanism of transformation toughening in zirconia-enriched composites. This model incorporates an earlier continuum model of transformation toughening for steady-state and growing cracks. Calculations were made over a wide range of elastic constants of matrices commonly found in practical applications. The obtained results indicate a strong influence of the mismatch in material properties of the matrix and zirconia particles on the toughening mechanism.