Benchmark polynomials for the porosity dependence of elastic moduli and conductivity of partially sintered ceramics

Abstract It is well known that no useful analytical models are available for predicting the porosity dependence of effective properties for partially sintered ceramics with an open (interconnected) pore space where concave pore surfaces are dominating. This does not mean, however, that that the problem of determining the effective properties of partially sintered ceramics does not have a unique solution for a given microstructure. It just means that this solution can be obtained only numerically. In this contribution we report the polynomial fits of our numerical results for the effective elastic moduli (Young’s modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus) and conductivity (thermal or electrical) for model materials based on the random close packing of monosized spheres. These relations are recommended as benchmark relations for the porosity dependence of the effective properties of partially sintered ceramics.