Analysis of a Microcrack Prototype and Its Implications for Microcrack Toughening

The stress intensity factor, the volume, and the macroscopic dilatational strain associated with microcracking for various crack lengths and elastic mismatches are examined for a microcrack prototype, which consists of a penny-shaped crack in the center of spherical particle under residual hydrostatic tension. The results of these quantities and the implications for microcrack toughening are presented. The effects of elastic mismatch between the particle and matrix phases are emphasized.