Lifetime Prediction and Reliability Evaluation of Si₃N₄ Ceramic

In this study, non-equilibrium statistical physics is used to estimate the time-dependent fracture of inhomogeneous Si₃N₄ ceramic. The effects of structural inhomogeneity on mechanical properties of the Si₃N₄ ceramic are discussed. The numerical calculations show that the average lifetime will increase by means of introducing suitable inhomogeneity in materials, but it is not monotonous.