Two-D Analysis of the Thermo-Mechanical Properties of ZrO2-Based Composites

In this paper, a fast and efficient tool for predicting a set of physical and mechanical composite properties such as thermal expansion coefficients, thermal and electrical conductivity, stiffness, and thermal residual stress is developed based on the analysis of a representative volume of ZrO2-based composite. Such an analysis allows an engineer to assess the mechanical and physical properties to design an optimum composite composition in terms of advantageous mechanical properties and at the same time a good electrical discharge machining performance. Thermal residual stresses in the constituent phases and thermal and electrical conductivity of ZrO2-based composites are assessed by a Finite Element (FE) model using 2 dimensional SEM micrographs. The FE models are verified by comparing numerically calculated results with experimentally measured data.