Silicon carbide (SiC) is an important ceramic material usually found in polycrystalline form with grain boundary thickness ranging from a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers and grains with multiple orientations with sizes of the order of few micrometers. The present work focuses on analyzing how the interplay between different orientations of SiC grains and different grain boundary thicknesses can be exploited for targeted improvement in the fracture resistance properties of SiC. Crack propagation simulations using the cohesive finite element method (CFEM) are performed on the finite element meshes developed on experimentally processed SiC morphologies. Analyses were performed at two different length scales: 300 μm × 60 μm (scale-1:Microscale) and 75 μm × 15 μm (scale-2:Mesoscale). Lower resolution microstructure at scale-1 does not explicitly consider the presence of grain boundaries (GBs). Higher resolution microstructure at scale-2 explicitly models GBs. Results indicate that the effect of change in grain orientation is on crack path only. The fracture resistance is not significantly affected. The presence of GBs may directly aid in strengthening a microstructure’s fracture resistance. However, indirectly it may weaken a microstructure by favoring the formation of microcracks. Significantly higher crack formation in grain interior while lower interfacial energy dissipation in comparison to interfaces indicates overall lower fracture strength of grain interiors in comparison to interfaces. If GBs are not accounted for, the second most influencing factor affecting fracture strength is the average grains size. Overall, it is mainly the GBs not the grain orientation distribution and grain size that significantly affects fracture strength.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: lee761@purdue.edu
Article navigation
October 2011
Research Papers
Effect of Meso to Micro Transition in Morphology Dependent Fracture of SiC Ceramics
Hongsuk Lee,
e-mail: lee761@purdue.edu
Hongsuk Lee
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Search for other works by this author on:
Vikas Tomar
Vikas Tomar
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Search for other works by this author on:
Hongsuk Lee
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907e-mail: lee761@purdue.edu
Vikas Tomar
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907J. Eng. Mater. Technol. Oct 2011, 133(4): 041001 (10 pages)
Published Online: October 13, 2011
Article history
Received:
March 4, 2011
Revised:
July 14, 2011
Accepted:
July 22, 2011
Online:
October 13, 2011
Published:
October 13, 2011
Citation
Lee, H., and Tomar, V. (October 13, 2011). "Effect of Meso to Micro Transition in Morphology Dependent Fracture of SiC Ceramics." ASME. J. Eng. Mater. Technol. October 2011; 133(4): 041001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4004686
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Evaluation of Machine Learning Models for Predicting the Hot Deformation Flow Stress of Sintered Al–Zn–Mg Alloy
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (April 2025)
Blast Mitigation Using Monolithic Closed-Cell Aluminum Foam
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (April 2025)
Irradiation Damage Evolution Dependence on Misorientation Angle for Σ 5 Grain Boundary of Nb: An Atomistic Simulation-Based Study
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (July 2025)
Related Articles
The Influence of
Material Properties and Confinement on the Dynamic Penetration of Alumina by Hard
Spheres
J. Appl. Mech (September,2009)
Finite Element Modeling of Microcrack Growth in Cortical Bone
J. Appl. Mech (July,2011)
The Influence of Grain Size on the Toughness of Monolithic Ceramics
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (July,1993)
On Predicting Nucleation of Microcracks Due to Slip-Twin Interactions at Grain Boundaries in Duplex Near γ - Ti Al
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (April,2008)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Grain Size and Grain-Boundaries Consequences on Diffusion and Trapping of Hydrogen in Pure Nickel
International Hydrogen Conference (IHC 2012): Hydrogen-Materials Interactions
Accommodation and Stability of Alloying Elements in Amorphous Grain Boundaries of Zirconia
Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 20th International Symposium
Failure from Large Grains in Polycrystalline Ceramics: Transitions in Fracture Toughness
Fracture Resistance Testing of Monolithic and Composite Brittle Materials