In situ quantitative three-dimensional characterisation of sub-indentation cracking in polycrystalline alumina

Yelena Vertyagina*, Mahmoud Mostafavi, Christina Reinhard, Robert Atwood, T. James Marrow

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The three-dimensional deformation beneath a Vickers indentation in polycrystalline alumina has been measured, in situ, by digital volume correlation of high resolution synchrotron X-ray computed tomographs. The displacement fields at the peak indentation load and after unloading are used to study the shape and orientation of sub-surface cracks induced by the indentation; lateral cracking due to residual stresses, bounded by a system of radial cracks, is revealed. For the first time, it is shown that radial cracks have mixed mode opening displacements, which are affected by the relaxation of residual stresses via lateral cracking. This novel technique may find applications in the study of surface damage by abrasive wear in brittle materials.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3127-3132
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the European Ceramic Society
Volume34
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Alumina
  • Crack
  • Digital volume correlation
  • Indentation

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