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Use of indentation fracture to determine fracture toughness

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6796701
In recent studies on indentation fracture in brittle materials, use of the cracks which form beneath a pointed indenter and grow stably with load has been suggested as a simple technique for the determination of fracture toughness (K/sub c/). The applicability of this technique has been assessed by performing tests on a number of polycrystalline ceramics, glass-ceramics and glasses which span a range of fracture toughness from 0.7 to 4.5 MNm/sup -3/2/. Various sharp indenter geometries were tested and it was concluded that cracks produced with the Vickers indenter were the easiest to measure. The existing theories for calculating K/sub c/ from experimental measurements (crack length, load, etc.) have been evaluated and their applicability has been determined. The results demonstrate the usefulness of a Vickers pyramid in obtaining a qualitative ranking of K/sub c/ for a wide range of brittle materials. A number of practical problems associated with this technique are discussed.
Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, N.Mex. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
6796701
Report Number(s):
SAND-77-1871C; CONF-780625-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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