Method for Tensile Testing of Brittle Materials

Abstract

A method of tensile testing is described in which hydrostatic pressure, acting radially against the internal wall of a cylindrical specimen, is utilized to create a uniform tangential tensile stress in the specimen wall. The method is applicable to brittle materials because it eliminates nonaxial stresses due to misalignment and localized stress concentrations which normally arise from gripping or supporting the test specimens. Standard deviations of 1.1 to 2.6% were obtained on plastic and aluminum oxide specimens. The method and apparatus are described, and the results are presented.