ANISOTROPIC DAMAGE MODEL FOR IMPACTED CERAMIC MATERIAL - APPLICATION TO SILICON-CARBIDE

The anisotropic damage model for impacted ceramics, which is here prop osed, is based on experimental observations of the damage propagation. Crack initiation occurs when a principal tensile stress exceeds a thr eshold value and propagation takes place in plane perpendicular to the stress direction. The damage propagation is linked to the Young's mod ulus decrease in each direction. Crack and multicracked-zone propagati on velocities are assessed by using a high-speed camera. This model al lows to predict the orientation of different cracks and therefore take s into account the anisotropic nature of damage. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All right reserved.