This work presents a new finite-difference continuum damage mechanics approach for assessment of threshold stresses based on the mechanical response of a representative volume element of a sandy-cement rock-like material. An original experimental study allows validating the mathematical model. A new modification of the damage accumulation kinetic equation is proposed. Several approaches based on acoustic emission, instantaneous Poisson’s ratio and reversal point method are employed to determine the threshold stresses. Relying on the numerical modeling of deformation and failure of model samples, the threshold stresses and the deformation stages are determined. The model predicts the crack initiation stress threshold with less than 10% error. The model prediction of the crack damage stress threshold corresponds to the upper boundary of the experimental range. The model predicts the peak stress threshold with less than 0.2% error in comparison with the average experimental peak stress. The results of numerical modeling are shown to correlate well with the available experimental and literature data and sufficiently complement them.

The combination of various oxide ceramics in layered and functionally graded composites allows for the development of novel materials, including for high-temperature applications. This study demonstrates the possibility of obtaining a thick ZrO₂-based coating on a ZrB₂–SiC ceramic substrate by the immersion method. For better wettability, the porous ZrB₂–SiC substrate is treated with cold plasma without changing the structure and phase composition of the surface. Immersion of the substrate in a ZrO₂-based slurry results in the formation of a gradient transition layer due to ZrO₂ particle penetration into the pore volume. The interfacial residual microstresses are evaluated experimentally. The residual macrostresses in the samples are calculated by finite element simulation. It is shown that the thermal residual stresses in the ZrB₂–SiC substrate are compressive and do not exceed 43 MPa. In the ZrO₂ coating and transition layers of the composite, the residual stresses are tensile. Their values increase as they get closer to the outer layer of the ZrO₂ coating and reach 1525 MPa. This confirms the conclusions about the presence of tensile residual stresses made in the experimental part of the work when observing crack propagation in the surface layers during indentation.