The energy release rates of different crack paths at interfaces were estimated by using virtual crack closure technique(VTTC).An energy criterion based on the energy release rates was used to study the crack deflection of ceramic matrix composites.Meanwhile

and the effects of elastic mismatch parameters α and β

the crack growth length a and the relative crack growth length ad/ap on the crack deflection were analyzed.The VCCT results were compared with those obtained by integration method.The results show that

VCCT can accurately calculate the energy release rates of crack growth

providing a reference for study of failure mechanism of ceramic matrix composites.