ABSTRACT
The Boundary Element (BE) method is applied to the non-Hertzian contact problem of spherical and cylindrical inclusions in a homogeneous matrix. A range of inclusion/matrix material properties is considered. The stress distribution caused by the presence of cracks within the inclusions is presented as well as stress intensity factors for several crack lengths. The BE solutions are compared to analytical and Finite Element solutions, where available.
The study of crack propagation and stress concentration in and around inclusions embedded in multi-phase materials such as ceramics, is of great significance in assessing the reliability of these materials. Several earlier studies [1-3] have established that the fracture of ceramics is often caused by microcracks originating from inclusions and linking up to form larger cracks which ultimately cause catastrophic failure of the structure.
