Fracture toughness, K_Ic, is a measure of the resistance to crack extension in a brittle material. These test methods may be used for material development, material comparison, quality assessment, and characterization.

The pb and the vb fracture toughness values provide information on the fracture resistance of advanced ceramics containing large sharp cracks, while the sc fracture toughness value provides this information for small cracks comparable in size to natural fracture sources. Cracks of different sizes may be used for the sc method. If the fracture toughness values vary as a function of the crack size it can be expected that K_Isc will differ from K_Ipb and K_Ivb.

1.1 These test methods cover the fracture toughness, K_Ic, determination of advanced ceramics at ambient temperature. The methods determine K_Ipb (precracked beam test specimen), K_Isc (surface crack in flexure), and K_Ivb (chevron-notched beam test specimen). The fracture toughness values are determined using beam test specimens with a sharp crack. The crack is either a straight-through crack formed via bridge flexure (pb), or a semi-elliptical surface crack formed via Knoop indentation (sc), or it is formed and propagated in a chevron notch (vb), as shown in Fig. 1.

Note 1—The terms bend(ing) and flexure are synonymous in these test methods.

1.2 These test methods are applicable to materials with either flat or with rising R-curves. Differences in test procedure and analysis may cause the values from each test method to be different. For many materials, such as the silicon nitride Standard Reference Material 2100, the three methods give identical results at room temperature in ambient air.

1.3 The fracture toughness values for a material can be functions of environment, test rate and temperature. These test methods give fracture toughness values for specific conditions of environment, test rate and temperature.

1.4 These test methods are intended primarily for use with advanced ceramics which are macroscopically homogeneous. Certain whisker- or particle-reinforced ceramics may also meet the macroscopic behavior assumptions. Single crystals may also be tested.

1.5 This standard begins with a main body that provides information on fracture toughness testing in general. It is followed by annexes and appendices with specific information for the particular test methods.