VISUALIZATION OF THE DAMAGE EVOLUTION IN IMPACTED SILICON-CARBIDE CERAMICS

An experimental technique has been developed by Arcueil Research and S tudy Center (CREA) to visualize and follow the evolution of damage in a ceramic during impact. This technique, based on the use of a high-sp eed camera, allows to obtain qualitative and quantitative information on the damage location and evolution. Experimental data such as crack front velocity, fracture velocity, crack density and time of damage in itiation can be obtained. The advantages of this technique are discuss ed. The experimental set-up and the results obtained by this technique are presented. A numerical simulation is compared with experimental m easurements. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.