Modelling of damage development during sintering

A model for prediction of damage development during sintering is put forward. The model is based on the homogenization of sintering behaviour of a single neck between particles over all necks in material. The damage is treated as broken necks. Numerical analysis is based on a finite element implementation of a macroscopic extremum statement of the problem. The model predicts the volume distribution and evolution of damage in powder compacts under constrained sintering. Despite the generally justified consolidating role of sintering some examples of the existence of stable damage zones in materials are considered.