Procedural Aspects of the Wedge Splitting Method to Measure the Fracture Energy of Ceramic Materials

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Ribeiro, S. ; Vieira, J. S. C. ; Exposito, C. C. D. ; Rodrigues, J. A. ; Marques, AT ; Silva, AF ; Baptista, APM ; Sa, C ; Alves, FJLA ; Malheiros, LF ; Vieira, M

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Materials Science Forum; v. 587-588, p. 2-pg., 2008-01-01.

Abstract

To study the fracture energy of materials, the stable crack propagation must be observed during the test. To this end, an appropriate method. particularly in the case of large samples, is the wedge splitting method. By this method, the test machine stores less elastic energy. facilitating stable propagation. The materials tested in this study were mortars with sand:cement ratios of 2:1 and 3:1. Two types of samples were prepared: one with a notch and grooves produced with a diamond disk and the other with notch and grooves produced directly during molding of the mortar. The crack moved easily along an imaginary vertical plane defined by the grooves. The methodology proved sensitive to the material's microstructure. modified here by varying its formulation. High sensitivity was also found in relation to the shape of the tip of the notch, whether V-shaped or square. In the material studied here. the values of fracture energy varied from 2 3 to 56 J.m(-2). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 01/04324-8 - Systemic approach for the development of advanced refractory castables - II
• Grantee: Victor Carlos Pandolfelli
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants