Ceramic materials are of a complex internal structure. The materials are used in structures of high responsibility like drilling devices, cutting devices, jet engines, and many others. Examples of such materials are multiphase polycrystals, for example, WC/Co, SiC/Al, and Al₂O₃/ZrO_2. The combination of phases of different properties yields a complex microstructure. The dynamic phenomena are very diverse. During high-velocity impact, complex phenomena like cracks, fragmentation and phase transformation in a ceramic-metal matrix composites appear. The behavior of CMM and composites of all brittle phases is qualitatively different. Special attention is given to the influence of voids, and inclusions within the polycrystalline materials on their performance. In recent decades, the advancement of the numerical methods has allowed for the analysis of impact phenomena not only because of theory development but also due to the application of high-performance computing. Numerical analysis often makes it possible to have an insight into the rapid processes that are practically impossible to follow during experiments. Topics: Impact of samples, fragmentation; Variable dynamic loads; Imperfections, voids, inclusions in grains, imperfections in grain boundaries; Imperfections in interfaces; Numerical methods (finite element method, meshless methods); Nonlocal methods; Thermal effects, phase transformation.
Keywords: ceramics; numerical methods; coupled problems; damage; plasticity; thermomechanics.