SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1992
STP24717S

Chevron-Notched, Flexure Tests for Measuring the Elevated-Temperature Fracture Resistance of Structural Ceramics

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Chevron-notched, three-point flexure specimens were used to study the quasistatic fracture behaviour of a variety of structural ceramics at temperatures to 1400°C. Types of materials tested included monolithic ceramics (SiC., Si3N4, MgAl2O4), self-reinforced monoliths (acicular-grained Si3N4, acicular-grained mullite), and ceramic matrix composites (SiC whisker/Al2O3 matrix, TiB2 particulate/SiC matrix, SiC fibre/CVI SiC matrix, Al2O3 fibre/CVI SiC matrix).

Fracture resistance behavior of the materials was quantified as three distinct regimes of the fracture histories. At the initial part of the crack propagation, the apparent fracture toughness was evaluated as the critical stress intensity factor for the chevron notch, KIvM. During stable crack propagation, the crack growth resistance was characterized by the instantaneous strain energy release rate, GR, using a compliance method assuming linear-elastic unloading to calculate the effective crack lengths. At final fracture, the complete fracture process was quantified using the work-of-fracture, γWOF, which can be equated to the fracture surface energy for linear-elastic materials.

Results indicate that the chevron-notched, three-point flexure specimen facilitates the study of fracture behaviour in a wide range of brittle and quasi-brittle materials at elevated temperatures. The unique features of the chevron geometry, which are automatic crack initiation and inherent stable crack growth, are crucial to the successful evaluation of the fracture tests.

Author Information

Jenkins, MG
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Ferber, MK
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Ghosh, A
Philips Display Components Co., Ann Arbor, MI
Peussa, JT
Federation of Finnish Metal, Engineering, and Electro-Technical Industries, Helsinki, Finland
Salem, JA
NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH
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Details
Developed by Committee: E08
Pages: 159–177
DOI: 10.1520/STP24717S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5219-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1480-7