ABSTRACTConsidering the SD (strength differential) effect on compressive strength and tensile strength in zirconia ceramic material, a yield criterion with a special parameter is introduced. In addition, by analogy with associated flow rule, the constitutive model of phase transformation ceramic material has been established. Under generalized plane strain condition, the theoretical toughening expressions of mixed-mode I-III stationary cracks and steady-state growing cracks have been developed with the constitutive model. The crack toughening effect has been discussed in detail with the Poisson ratio, parameters k / α (the ratio of nominal yield strength and SD effect factor) and ω (the scale factor of mode I crack and mode III). The integral calculation shows that phase transformation toughening of stationary cracks is negative shielding effect and the toughening effect of the steady-state growing cracks change obviously with the increase of parameter k / α. Comparison between experimental data and theoretical data indicates that the yield criterion is in accord with the actual characteristics of the zirconia ceramic, when the expression of mixed-mode I-III crack is reduced to mode I crack. The results obtained in present paper can provide the useful theoretical reference for the research of phase transformation toughening in ceramic materials.
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