Knowledge of crack initiation, propagation, and corresponding thermal shock failure evolution is prerequisite for effective maintenance of civil engineering so as to avoid disaster. Experimental analysis of the cracking in the ceramic sheets subsequent to water quenching has been conducted. Based on statistical mesoscopic damage mechanics, it was revealed that there are four stages in the process of thermal shock evolution of ceramics subjected to water quenching. The multiple cracks interaction mechanism has been analyzed from the viewpoint of the evolution of the elastic strain energy and stress intensity factor.

The authors are grateful for the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China through Grant No. 11272313.