Residual stresses in cemented carbides - An overview

Results show a complex plasticity behavior that comprises a primary source of toughening characteristic in cemented carbides. However, it is now clear that assumptions implicit in the application of fracture mechanics to cemented carbides, including far-field linear elasticity and isotropy are not valid. The emergent view of cemented carbide mechanics seems to require a new, non-linear-elastic model of toughness behavior in these materials, both in terms of bulk “continuum” response and response in the presence of defects. Moreover, such models, if they are to provide accuracy, must also take into account the documented anisotropic relaxation and plasticity effects and their sensitivity to load directionality and history.