ABSTRACT

Considerable work has been carried out on toughening mechanisms in both continuous fiber reinforced and whisker reinforced ceramics. To fully describe the state-of-the-art of ceramic composite toughening theory, a detailed mathematical treatment is required. However, a useful non-mathematical description of the most important toughening mechanisms can be provided for the reader interested in a general overall understanding of ceramic composites. Therefore, this will be the approach taken here. For readers desiring a more comprehensive, mathematical treatment of the subject of toughening mechanisms, review articles such as those by Evans and Marshall [1] and Becher [2] are recommended.