Novel numerical approach for reliability-assurance of ceramics by combining self-crack-healing with proof testing

Ceramics exhibit stochastic fracture behavior due to internal and surface defects, thereby limiting their practical use. To address this issue, a combined method of 'self-crack-healing' and 'proof testing' has been proposed. However, to efficiently implement the method, a numerical analysis is required for preliminary investigation. This study establishes a finite element analysis methodology that enables the prediction of both strength recovery due to crack healing and the scatter of strength due to microstructural features. We determine the dependence of the scatter of the three-point bending strength on the healing conditions using the Weibull distribution and demonstrate the applicability of the proposed analysis method to proof tests. Results revealed that the proposed methodology can estimate the healing conditions and proof stresses by obtaining the microstructural information and oxidation kinetics parameters of the ceramic components in advance.