A Finite Fracture Approach for Determining the Fracture Onset of a Brazed SiC Specimen

The failure initiation of a brazed sample made of silicon carbide substrates and submitted to bending is analyzed with the help of a criterion which combines a maximum incremental energy release rate and a maximum tensile stress conditions. Two different modes of cracking are considered to develop in the vicinity of the free edge between the brazed layer and the ceramic substrate: edge debonding and substrate cracking. The comparison of the predictions with the experimental results allows estimating the fracture properties of the bonding.