Experimental analysis of splitting tensile test for brittle material

Abstract

In this project, method of dynamic tensile test for brittle material is studied. The tensile test of brittle materials, i.e., ceramic, glass, plaster, concrete, and rock, are relatively difficult to performed in dynamic condition. In the static test, the method of splitting tensile test (or also called as Brazilian test) has been standardized in the international concrete standards. Nowadays, this method is more preferable and reliable to measure the tensile strength in static condition. The Brazilian test is relatively simple to perform, it only requires the external compressive load initiated along two opposite diametric generators. When the load is on the increase, due to the stress distribution, the failure will occur caused by indirect tension in the form of splitting on the diametric loading plane. This project focused on experimental analysis of splitting tensile test for brittle material. A holed-notch cylinder fracture specimen is used with variation of ratio of hole radius to specimen radius together with ratio of initial notch to specimen radius. A total of five groups of specimen were tested under static condition. Brazilian test is done to the specimen and the data obtained is used to determine the splitting tensile stress and fracture toughness of the material.