Interaction of a harmonic wave with a dynamically transforming inhomogeneity

Abstract

The elastodynamic response of the transformation-toughened ceramics under a time-harmonic stress wave is investigated. A phenomenological model is proposed to describe the situation, which involves the interaction between an incident stress wave and a dynamic inhomogeneity with a stress-induced martensitic transformation. The most important assumption made in this model is that the stress-induced transformation can be treated as completely reversible. The solution for this model is obtained by combining solutions to a scattering problem, a dynamic inhomogeneity problem, and a static inhomogeneity problem. An exact closed form solution is obtained for the dynamic inhomogeneity problem. The numerical results for the zirconia-toughened ceramics suggest that, under the high-frequency dynamic loading, the transformation-toughened ceramics might lose its toughness due to a relatively large tension field caused by the dynamically transforming zirconia particle.