• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1099-1106
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• 1994

It is suggested that the microstructural toughening process in the initial rising portion of R-curves observed in polycrystalline alumina should be different from the grain bridging mechanism identified in the long crack regime. Microcracking in the advancing crack front seems to be a prerequisite for the development of unbroken bridging ligaments behind the crack tip. In order to test such a proposition, attempts were made to identify experimentally the presence of microcracks in the frontal zone of propagating cracks. In-situ observation is made of crack growth in a miniature double cantilever beam specimen of a average grain size of 10 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ alumina. Presence of a few microcracks was identified in front of crack tip on the propagating crack plane. The R-curves were re-evaluated based on the observation.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.649-654
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• 2004

In this paper, the fracture toughness and mechanisms of failure in a random SiC-whisker/$Al_{2}O_3$ ceramic composite were investigated using in situ observations during mode I(opening) loading. $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite was obtained by hot press sintering of $Al_{2}O_3$ powder and SiC whisker as the matrix and reinforcement, respectively. The whisker and powder were mixed using a turbo mill. The composite was produced at SiC whisker volume fraction of $0.3\%$. Compared with monolithic $Al_{2}O_3$, fracture toughness enhancement was observed in $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite. This improved fracture toughness was attributed to SiC whisker bridging and crack deflection. $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite exhibited typically brittle fracture behavior, but a fracture process zone was observed in this composite. This means that the load versus load-line displacement curve of $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite from a fracture test may involve a small non-linear region near the peak load.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.76-84
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• 1985

Mechanical property enhancing mechanisms of $Al_2O_3-ZrO_2$ two phase ceramic composites were studied for several compositions of different $ZrO_2$/$Al_2O_3$ ratio. Microstructural analysis of $Al_2O_3-ZrO_3$(pure) composites indicated that pre-existing microcrack due to larger $ZrO_2$ particle at grain boundary extended along alumina grain boundaries within process zone. Microcracks also nucleated when very small $ZrO_2$ particles at the grain boundaries transformed to monoclinic phase at near of main crack tip. These types of microcracks could contribute to the toughening achieved by creating additional crack surface area during crack propagation. Microstructural analyses also showed that the average grain size and abnormal grain size of $Al_2O_3$ were decreased with increasing $ZrO_2$ vol% in $Al_2O_3$ matrix. As a result it could be concluded as follows In TEX>$Al_2O_3-ZrO_3$(pure) system 1. Microcrack nucleation (stress-induced microcracking) and extension was effective mechanism for absorpiton of fracture energy 2, More narrow distribution and smaller grain size of $Al_2O_3$ due to $ZrO_2$particles mainly contributed to main-tatin the strength and hardness.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.8 no.1 s.27
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• pp.139-152
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• 2006

Many experimental and numerical approaches have been developed to evaluate paving materials and to predict pavement response and distress. Micromechanical simulation modeling is a technology that can reduce the number of physical tests required in material formulation and design and that can provide more details, e.g., the internal stress and strain state, and energy evolution and dissipation in simulated specimens with realistic microstructural features. A clustered distinct element modeling (DEM) approach was implemented In the two-dimensional particle flow software package (PFC-2D) to study the complex behavior observed in asphalt mixture fracturing. The relationship between continuous and discontinuous material properties was defined based on the potential energy approach. The theoretical relationship was validated with the uniform axial compression and cantilever beam model using two-dimensional plane strain and plane stress models. A bilinear cohesive displacement-softening model was implemented as an intrinsic interface and applied for both homogeneous and heterogeneous fracture modeling in order to simulate behavior in the fracture process zone and to simulate crack propagation. A disk-shaped compact tension test (DC(T)) with heterogeneous microstructure was simulated and compared with the experimental fracture test results to study Mode I fracture. The realistic arbitrary crack propagation including crack deflection, microcracking, crack face sliding, crack branching, and crack tip blunting could be represented in the fracture models. This micromechanical modeling approach represents the early developmental stages towards a 'virtual asphalt laboratory,' where simulations of laboratory tests and eventually field response and distress predictions can be made to enhance our understanding of pavement distress mechanisms, such its thermal fracture, reflective cracking, and fatigue crack growth.