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Slow crack growth versus creep cavity coalescence: Competing failure mechanisms during high-temperature deformation of advanced ceramics

Conference ·
OSTI ID:563617
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

Duality of failure mechanisms (slow crack growth from pre-existing defects versus cumulative creep damage) is examined in a silicon nitride advanced ceramic recently tested at elevated-temperatures. Static (constant stress over time), dynamic (monotonically-increasing stress over time), and cyclic (fluctuating stress over time) fatigue behaviors were evaluated in tension in ambient air at temperatures of 1150, 1260, and 1370{degrees}C for a hot-isostatically pressed monolithic {beta}-silicon nitride. At 1150{degrees}C, all three types of fatigue results showed the similar failure mechanism of slow crack growth (SCG). At 1260 and 1370{degrees}C the failure mechanism was more complex. Failure under static fatigue was dominated by the accumulation of creep damage via diffusion-controlled cavities. In dynamic fatigue, failure occurred by SCG at high stress rates (>10{sup {minus}2}MPa/s) and by creep damage at low stress rates ({le}10{sup {minus}2} MPa/s). For cyclic fatigue, such rate effects influenced the stress rupture results in which times to failure were greater for dynamic and cyclic fatigue than for static fatigue. Elucidation of failure mechanisms is necessary for accurate prediction of long-term survivability and reliability of structural ceramics.

OSTI ID:
563617
Report Number(s):
CONF-9606176--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English