Direct Measurement of Transformation Zone Strains in Toughened Zirconia

Abstract

Residual strains responsible for crack tip shielding have been measured within transformation zones surrounding cracks in Mg‐PSZ. Two techniques were used for strain measurement: moiré interferometry and high‐resolution image matching. Both methods provide maps of differential in‐plane displacements within the specimen surface intersected by the crack, the latter method with the higher resolution. The results are compared with finite‐element analysis to assess surface relaxation effects, and the measured strains are used to evaluate the crack tip shielding stress intensity factor. Calculations based on the assumption that the unconstrained transformation strain is hydrostatic dilatation yielded results that were significantly smaller than the measured toughness increases.