The dislocation shielding model was used to analyse interfacial toughening in metal/ceramic layered materials in terms of dislocation plasticity. The dislocation emission in cracked layered materials was investigated. Emitted dislocations piled up against the bonded interface, and the super-dislocation assumption was used to explain the shielding effect. The interface crack-tip field was modified, and crack propagation was investigated in detail under mixed-mode loading conditions. The effects of the length scale (metal layer-thickness) and interfacial strength were examined. It was demonstrated that a thicker metal layer, stronger interface and higher mode-II loading component promoted greater toughness.

Length-Scale Controlled Interfacial Toughening and Weakening in Metal/Ceramic Layered Materials. M.Z.Li, S.X.Mao: Philosophical Magazine A, 2002, 82[5], 1049-71