Numerical Modeling of Shrinkage of a Ceramic Material in Drying Process

In the present study the phenomenon of drying a clay brick ceramic is analyzed. Strain–Stress equations coupled to heat and mass transfers during drying of deformable two-phase media has been modeled and both 2D and 3D arrangements have been studied. In order to compare the results, two samples with identical compositions are used for both configurations. The material is considered as a two-phase, homogeneous, isotropic, and highly shrinkable medium. The principal equations of the model, because of the shrinkage behavior are written in a Lagrangian formulation. The model is solved numerically by a finite difference method and Validation of results is achieved by comparing the numerical results with experimental data. The model being developed allows the derivation of the time and space moisture contents, strains, and stresses incurred as a result of drying. A significant difference was observed between the results obtained for the two different configurations particularly in intensity of the stress causing cracking