Effect of loading phase angle on interfacial fracture toughness for Circumferentially Notched Tensile specimens

Coatings often used as a covering to enhance the quality and protect the material to which they are applied to. The interface between the coating and substrate is the weakest part of the material system. Understanding the characteristics of the interfacial fracture toughness is important as it is the bimaterial property that has the most significant impact on the performance of the system. Through accurate prediction of the interfacial fracture toughness, coatings can be produced that are more reliable as unanticipated failures are less likely to occur. This paper analyses the new experimental method-Circumferentially Notched Tensile (CNT) test, using numerical finite element analysis, in order to create a global testing method that can determine interfacial fracture toughness of bimaterial systems.