Energy-based and local approaches to the strength analysis of ceramic laminates with thermal residual stresses through the finite element method

This paper deals with the strength analysis of ceramic laminates subjected to residual stress fields. In particular, alumina/mullite/zirconia ceramic materials have been taken into consideration. To this purpose, an energy-based approach and a micromechanical local approach have been used within the framework of the finite element method. The results obtained through the numerical analyses are consistent with the experimental ones, providing a correct estimation of the limit strength; furthermore, a lower bound on the external applied loads, below which no crack propagation occurs, can be identified. The local approach has led to a strength distribution that deviates from the typical Weibull distribution; this is owed to the residual stress field. Indeed, a stress-dependent Weibull modulus has been found.