The Application of the Single-Edge Notched Beam to Fracture Toughness Testing of Ceramics

There is a need for easy-to-fabricate fracture toughness specimens for ceramics. The single-edge notched beam satisfies this need, except that the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification for notch root crack depth is difficult to achieve in ceramics using standard metallurgical methods. Finite element techniques are used to demonstrate that a minimum ratio of crack depth to notch root radius of 0.5 is sufficient for a valid test in a ceramic. These calculations are confirmed by experiments on soda-lime glass specimens.