Abstract
In the present work the finite element method is used to calculate the energy release rate at the interfacial crack tip of Al(2)O(3)/ZrO(2)/Al(2)O(3) and Al(2)O(3)/Metal/ZrO(2) composite. The behaviour of the bonded materials is supposed to be linear and elastic. The effects of the layer number, the thickness of the composite beam, the crack length as well as of the crack position on the variation of the energy release rate at the crack tip were highlighted. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.