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Journal of Advanced Ceramics 2013, 2(1): 87-102 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-013-0047-z
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 06 April 2013

Determination of fracture toughness using the area of micro-crack tracks left in brittle materials by Vickers indentation test

Show Author's Information Alireza MORADKHANI*,a( ),  Hamidreza BAHARVANDIb,  Mehdi TAJDARIc,  Hamidreza LATIFId,  Jukka MARTIKAINENd
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hesarak, Poonak, P.O. Box 14515/775, Tehran, Iran
Department of Materials Engineering, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Lavizan, P.O. Box 15875/1774, Tehran, Iran
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Vahdat St., Hafezieh Sq., P.O. Box 381814/6775, Arak, Iran
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory of Welding Technology, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Skinnarilankatu 34, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland
Keywords:
fracture toughness, mechanical properties, nanocomposites, indentation
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MORADKHANI A, BAHARVANDI H, TAJDARI M, et al. Determination of fracture toughness using the area of micro-crack tracks left in brittle materials by Vickers indentation test. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2013, 2(1): 87-102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-013-0047-z
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Abstract Full text About this article

In this article, a new method has been presented for the estimation of fracture toughness in brittle materials, which enjoys improved accuracy and reduced costs associated with fracture toughness testing procedure compared to similar previous methods, because a vast range of specimens with irregular cracks can be accommodated for testing. Micron-sized alumina powders containing 0.05 wt% magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were mixed and also together with 2.5 vol%, 5 vol%, 7.5 vol%, 10 vol%, and 15 vol% of silicon carbide (SiC) nanopowders separately. By making and testing various types of ceramics with different mechanical properties, and considering the irregular cracks around the indented area caused by Vickers diamond indenter, a semi-empirical fracture toughness equation has been obtained.


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Determination of fracture toughness using the area of micro-crack tracks left in brittle materials by Vickers indentation test

Show Author's information Alireza MORADKHANI*,a( ), Hamidreza BAHARVANDIb, Mehdi TAJDARIc, Hamidreza LATIFId, Jukka MARTIKAINENd
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hesarak, Poonak, P.O. Box 14515/775, Tehran, Iran
Department of Materials Engineering, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Lavizan, P.O. Box 15875/1774, Tehran, Iran
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Vahdat St., Hafezieh Sq., P.O. Box 381814/6775, Arak, Iran
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory of Welding Technology, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Skinnarilankatu 34, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract

In this article, a new method has been presented for the estimation of fracture toughness in brittle materials, which enjoys improved accuracy and reduced costs associated with fracture toughness testing procedure compared to similar previous methods, because a vast range of specimens with irregular cracks can be accommodated for testing. Micron-sized alumina powders containing 0.05 wt% magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were mixed and also together with 2.5 vol%, 5 vol%, 7.5 vol%, 10 vol%, and 15 vol% of silicon carbide (SiC) nanopowders separately. By making and testing various types of ceramics with different mechanical properties, and considering the irregular cracks around the indented area caused by Vickers diamond indenter, a semi-empirical fracture toughness equation has been obtained.

Keywords: fracture toughness, mechanical properties, nanocomposites, indentation

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Publication history
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Publication history

Received: 02 December 2012
Revised: 07 February 2013
Accepted: 16 February 2013
Published: 06 April 2013
Issue date: March 2013

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© The author(s) 2013

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Open Access: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

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