The Unit Strength Concept in the Interpretation of Beam Test Results for Brittle Materials

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Brittle materials are usually characterised in terms of the “modulus of rupture” obtained from the results of fracture tests on beam specimens. This is not a fundamental quantity. Alternative quantities (the mean strength of unit volume and of unit area) are introduced which are independent of the size of the specimen and the form of test, which allow the correlation of results from different tests, and which may be validly used in design calculations. After an outline of the necessary theory, the derivation of the two “unit strengths” and their use in correlating test results are illustrated using fracture data from a series of reaction-bonded silicon nitride beams. Minimum values obtained are:- mean uniaxial fracture stress of unit volume, 140 N/mm² per cm³; mean uniaxial fracture stress of unit surface area, 180 N/mm² per cm². A means of allowing for the effects of contact friction in the analysis of beam fracture test data is presented. The ignoring of these effects may result in a significant over-estimate of strength. The measured coefficient of friction decreased with increased load intensity.