Thermal shock resistance of ultra-high temperature ceramics including the effects of thermal environment and external constraints

The thermal shock resistance of ceramics depends on the materials mechanical and thermal properties, also is affected by component geometry and external factors and so on. Therefore, the thermal shock resistance of ceramic materials is the comprehensive performance of their mechanical and thermal properties corresponding to the various heat conditions and external constraints. In the present work, a thermal shock resistance model of the ultra-high temperature ceramics which considered the effects of thermal environment and constraints was established. With this model, the influence of constraints on the thermal shock resistance and critical fracture temperature difference had been studied and an effective idea to improve thermal shock resistance for ceramic material and structure was found. Furthermore, the model was validated by finite element method. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.