V‐Notch Technique for Single‐Edge Notched Beam and Chevron Notch Methods

The technique of a V‐shaped notch with very sharp root radius was used with the single‐edge notched beam and chevron notch methods to evaluate fracture toughness of ceramics. These methods are improved techniques using a V‐shaped diamond wheel. The single‐edge precracked beam and chevron notch techniques were also used to compare with these methods. The material used is a gas‐pressured Si 3 N 4 . The fracture toughness measured by these techniques showed quite small scatters and coincided with one another quite well, except for the usual chevron notch method.