Creep Damage Mechanisms in Structural Ceramics

The mechanisms responsible for fracture in structural ceramics at elevated temperatures are reviewed. It is seen that some features of the process are common to a wide range of materials, with quite different microstructures. These include a sensitivity to flaws or microstructural inhomogeneities which nucleate microcracks. However, it is often observed that the flaws which control failure under creep conditions are different from those …