Dynamic deformation characteristics of zirconium diboride–silicon carbide under multi-axial confinement

Abstract

Multiaxial quasi-static and dynamic compression experiments were performed on zirconium diboride-5wt% silicon carbide (ZrB2-5wt%SiC) ceramic composite processed via spark plasma sintering technique. Cylindrical ZrB2–SiC specimens were confined using thick walled metal sleeves to generate various levels of confinement pressure on the lateral surface and then subjected to axial loads under quasi-static and dynamic conditions. Postmortem analysis revealed formation of a macroscopic shear plane in the recovered specimens and slip bands within ZrB2 grains. Compressive strengths of up to 5.6 GPa and 9.8 GPa, respectively, were reached under quasi-static and dynamic strain rates. To capture the strain rate dependent and pressure dependent response the Johnson–Holmquist (JH-2) model was used and relevant parameters were determined for future high velocity impact or shock response simulations utilizing the experimental data generated from low and high strain rate confined compression tests. A comparison of JH-2 model constants for ZrB2–SiC along with other structural ceramics revealed that pressure alone plays a deterministic role in defining the constitutive response of all brittle ceramics including ZrB2–SiC.