Thermal Stress in a Zero Thermal Expansion Composite

C. Romao, and M. White
Dept. of Chemistry and Institute for Research in Materials
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS
Canada
Published in 2011

A series of 2-D finite element models of a ZrO2-ZrW2O8 composite system were created in COMSOL Multiphysics to study the effect of pores between the matrix (ZrO2) and filler (ZrW2O8) materials.

Pores were modeled as ellipses concentric with the filler particles. Seventeen model geometries of varying microstructure were studied in order to determine correlations between microstructural factors and thermal stress. A contact model of closing pores was included. A hyperelastic material model was created to determine the effects of the pressure-induced phase transition.

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