Multiple Surface Cracking and Its Effect on Interface Cracks in Functionally Graded Thermal Barrier Coatings Under Thermal Shock

The thermal fracture behavior in functionally graded yttria stabilized zirconia–NiCoCrAlY bond coat alloy thermal barrier coatings was studied using analytical models. The response of three coating architectures of similar thermal resistance to laser thermal shock tests was considered. Mean field micromechanics models were used to predict the effective thermoelastic and time-dependent (viscoplastic) properties of the individual layers of the graded thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). These effective properties were then utilized in fracture mechanics analyses to study the role of coating architecture on the initiation of surface cracks. The effect of the surface crack morphology and coating architecture on the propensity for propagation of horizontal delamination cracks was then assessed. The results of the analyses are correlated with previously reported experimental results. Potential implications of the findings on architectural design of these material systems for enhanced thermal fracture resistance are discussed.