Crack deflection at an interface of alumina/metal joint: A numerical analysis

Deflection of a crack at the bimaterial interface is the initial mechanism required for obtaining enhanced toughness in bimaterial system. In this paper, a criterion is presented to predict the competition between crack deflection and penetration at the interface, using an energy release rate criterion. The finite element methods are used to calculate the strain energy release rates at the crack tip of alumina–metal bimaterial that either deflect or penetrate at the interface as a function of elastic mismatch and length of the deflected or penetrated crack. The effects of the elastic properties of two bonded materials were highlighted in order to evaluate the conditions for the crack deflection by the interface as well as the distance between the crack tip and the interface.