Finite Element Modeling of Si3N4 Ceramic Microstructure

doi:10.12382/bgxb.2024.0407

Abstract

Abstract:

Ceramics will undergo when operating under long-term high temperature and high stress conditions,which promotes the generation and propagation of cracks and eventually leads to failure.The evolution of creep damage is closely related to the microstructure of ceramics.Establishing a microscopic finite element model of ceramic materials is conducive to a more in-depth understanding of this relationship.For this purpose,a dynamics-based 3D crystal deposition model is proposed by taking Si₃N₄ ceramics as the research object.The sintering process of Si₃N₄ ceramics is simulated by the Monte Carlo Potts crystal growth model,striving to reproduce the dynamic growth process of Si₃N₄ceramics as well as the microstructure characteristics,such as the size,shape and orientation distribution of crystals after crystallization,and the size,shape and distribution of pores.Based on the geometric boundary description generated by this simulation,a Python script is automatically generated to complete the finite element modeling in a FEA software.The statistical elastic constants of Si₃N₄ ceramics are verified using this finite element model.By comparing the calculated results with the experimental data,it is shown rhat the relative error is approximately 4.5%,which shows a good agreement.

Key words: Si₃N₄ ceramics, deposition algorithm, dynamic model, Monte Carlo Potts model, finite element model

CLC Number:

TQ174.1+5

ZHOU Xun, WANG Hongwu, WANG Xusheng, WANG zheng, QU Junfeng, SUN Mengyong, PAN Jun. Finite Element Modeling of Si₃N₄ Ceramic Microstructure[J]. Acta Armamentarii, 2025, 46(4): 240407-.

Figures/Tables 17

Fig.1 Microscopic morphology of β-Si3N4 ceramics structure

Fig.2 XRD analysis results of β-Si3N4 ceramics

Table 1 Sample composition and proportion

比例类型	β-氮化硅	晶间相
比例类型	β-氮化硅	Lu₄Si₂O₇N₂	空洞
质量比例/%	88.4	11.6	0
体积比例/%	93.3	5.2	1.5

Fig.3 Simplified geometric model of crystal grains

Fig.4 The position and posture of crystal grains

Fig.5 Stress analysis of crystal grains

Fig.6 Contact of crystal grains

Fig.7 Crystal grains in deposition simulation

Fig.8 A profile image of the deposition model

Fig.9 Histogram of crystal orientation angle distribution

Fig.10 Schematic diagram of crystal growth

Fig.11 Crystal growth rate diagram

Fig.12 Monte Carlo Potts model simulation flow chart

Fig.13 Profile image of ceramics after crystal coarsening

Fig.14 Finite element mesh

Table 2 Elastic stiffness matrix constants of β-Si3N4 crystal

常数	C₁₁	C₃₃	C₄₄	C₆₆	C₁₂	C₁₃
数值/GPa	434	577	109	120	197	130

Fig.15 Numerically simulated results and experimental results

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Finite Element Modeling of Si₃N₄ Ceramic Microstructure

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