Estimation of apparent fracture toughness of ceramic laminates

The paper presented deals with the fracture behaviour of ceramic laminates. The residual stresses in individual layers of Al2O3/5vol.%t-ZrO2 (ATZ) and Al2O3/30vol.%m-ZrO2 (AMZ) are determined. Assumptions concerning linear elastic fracture mechanics and small scale yielding are considered. In this frame the procedure based on a generalization of Sih’s strain energy density factor to the case of a crack touching the interfaces between two dissimilar materials is used for determination of effective values of the stress intensity factor on material interfaces. An important increase of fracture toughness at the AMZ/ATZ interface was predicted in comparison to the fracture toughness of individual material components. Predicted values were compared with data available in the literature and mutual good agreement was found. The procedure suggested can be used for estimation of resistance to crack propagation through multilayered structures and its design. The procedure can contribute to enhancing the reliability and safety of structural ceramics or, more generally, of layered composites with strong interfaces.