ISSN: 1945-7553
Published Online: 11 June 2007
Page Count: 6

A Critical Review of the Diametral Compression Method for Determining the Tensile Strength of Spherical Aggregates

Luscher, Walter G.
Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,PA

Hellmann, John R.
Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,PA

Segall, Albert E.
Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,PA

Shelleman, David L.
Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,PA

Scheetz, Barry E.
Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,PA

(Received 6 September 2006; accepted 4 May 2007)

Abstract

The validity of diametral compression as an effective means of determining the tensile strength of spherical ceramic bodies has often been questioned. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the original work, as well as alternative studies that suggest shortcomings of the original method, is made. For comparative purposes, data recently collected via diametral compression on aluminosilicate aggregates is presented in the context of these latter works and compared with the original methodology. Overall, results indicate that the diametral compression test can indeed provide an accurate measure of tensile strength when several important test criteria are met.

Keywords:
diametral compression, strength, aggregate, sphere

Paper ID: JTE100793
DOI: 10.1520/JTE100793
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