A non-linear viscoelastic model for ceramics at high temperatures

High-temperature mechanical behavior of ceramics is characterized by non-linear rate dependent responses, asymmetric behavior in tension and compression, and nucleation and coalescence of voids leading to rupture. Moreover, rupture experiments show considerable scatter or randomness in fatigue lives of nominally equal specimens. To capture the non-linear, asymmetric time-dependent behavior, a new non-linear viscoelastic model is proposed. Non-linearity and asymmetry are introduced in the volumetric component. To model the random formation and coalescence of voids, each element is assigned a failure strain sampled from a lognormal distribution. An element is deleted when its volumetric strain exceeds its failure strain. Temporal increases in strains produce a sequential loss of elements (a model for void nucleation and growth), which in turn leads to failure. Non-linear viscoelastic model parameters are determined from uniaxial tensile and compressive creep experiments on silicon nitride. The model is then used to predict the deformation of four-point bending and ball-on-ring specimens. Simulation is used to predict statistical moments of rupture lives. Numerical simulation results compare well with results of four-point bending experiments.