FRACTURE TESTING OF CERAMICS WITH R-CURVE BEHAVIOR

Significant improvements of the fracture toughness are striven for ceramic materials using micromechanical mechanisms of crack tip shielding. The application of Fine Ceramics to structures and engines is planed increasingly in expectancy of higher strength. The aim of the article is the verification of common brittle fracture tests employed for advanced ceramics. Theoretical aspects of the R-curve behaviour are analysed to feature reliably damage of materials. Stable crack growth and failure of standard specimens are assessed using theoretical simulations of experiments. The results are compared with real data. Suggestions are made to interpret properly measurements and to select appropriate specimen geometries for materials which show a distinctive R-curve behaviour.