Model of Strength Degradation from Hertzian Contact Damage in Tough Ceramics

A model of strength degradation for ceramics subject to damage from contact with hard spheres is developed. Primary attention is focused on tough ceramics with heterogeneous microstructures which deform in a quasi‐plastic mode. Brief consideration is also given to ideally brittle ceramics which form classical ring cracks, as a comparative baseline. Strength vs indentation load data from two microstructurally controlled ceramics, silicon nitride...