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Title: Determining fracture toughness of vitreous silica glass

Journal Article · · Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States)
 [1]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
  2. Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (United States)

This study demonstrates that the Chevron-notched short rod (CNSR) test technique is well suited for accurate determination of the fracture toughness for vitreous silica. A manifestation of the accuracy of this fracture toughness test technique is evident by low standard deviation of values observed from statistically significant sample sizes. Findings of this study suggest that the CNSR test method could be useful for determination of subtle changes in fracture toughness of glass caused by aggressive service environments, such as, hydrogen and/or ionizing radiation. Fracture surface morphological features of vitreous silica were revealed by atomic force microscope imaging. AFM enabled the examination of the fracture surface morphology locally with nanometer scale resolution. Short range, nanofracture mechanisms can be discerned for glass by atomic force microscopy.

DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
6604803
Journal Information:
Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States), Vol. 32:5; ISSN 0956-716X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English