Abstract
The elastodynamic response of the transformation-toughened ceramics under an instantaneous phase transformation is investigated. Some composite materials, such as Zirconia toughened ceramics, are remarkable material, which has a high strength, a high elastic modulus, and an improved toughness, etc. Most of the good qualities are common in many ceramic composite materials. These good qualities are made possible through the phase transformation of composite particles. The transformation toughening utilizes the stress-induced phase transformation of particles, which is accompanied by a volumetric expansion. In this paper a phenomenological model is proposed to describe the situation, which involves a dynamic martensitic transformation in a spherical particle of Zirconia embedded in the infinite elastic matrix.
