Mechanical Properties of a Transparent Brittle Material Manufactured by Fused Silica
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32, Issue 10
Abstract
In this paper, the mechanical properties and size effects, which are important factors to be considered in the determination of strength, were assessed for a transparent material made from fused silica. This material could be a suitable substitute for brittle rocks or concrete. Laboratory tests on the strength and deformation properties of the transparent material were performed through uniaxial compression tests and Brazilian tensile tests. To study the size effect, cylindrical specimens for uniaxial compressive tests were prepared with diameters of 40, 45, and 50 mm and a height-to-diameter () ratio of 2.0. The specimens for Brazilian tensile tests were made into cylindrical discs with diameters of 40, 50, and 100 mm and ratios of 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0, respectively. The stress-strain relationship of the transparent material was found to be similar to that of brittle rocks, for which the elastic modulus increased with the increasing diameter for uniaxial compression tests. The uniaxial compression strength (UCS) and Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) of the specimens ranged between 63.64 and 109.70 MPa and between 2.48 and 7.4 MPa, respectively. These results are approximately and of those of granite. The UCS of the specimens increases with an increasing diameter. However, the BTS decreases as the specimen diameter and ratio increase.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The research was financially supported by the Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (SJKY19_0455) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (B200202091, 2019B73714).
References
Adams, M., and G. Sines. 1978. “Crack extension from flaws in a brittle material subjected to compression.” Tectonophysics 49 (1–2): 97–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(78)90099-9.
Amaral, P. M., J. C. Fernandes, and L. G. Rosa. 2008. “Weibull statistical analysis of granite bending strength.” Rock. Mech. Rock. Eng. 41 (6): 917–928. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-007-0154-7.
Anderson, O., and P. Grew. 1977. “Stress corrosion theory of crack propagation with application to geophysics.” Rev. Geophys. Space. Phys. 15 (1): 77–104. https://doi.org/10.1029/RG015i001p00077.
Andersons, J., E. Sparnins, R. Joffe, and L. Wallstrom. 2005. “Strength distribution of elementary flax fibres.” Compos. Sci. Technol. 65 (3–4): 693–702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2004.10.001.
ASTM. 2008. Standard test method for splitting tensile strength of intact rock core specimens. ASTM D 3967-08. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Bahat, D. 1979. “Theoretical considerations on mechanical parameters of joint surfaces based on studies on ceramics.” Geol. Mag. 116 (2): 81–92. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756800042497.
Bieniawski, Z. T. 1968. “The effect of specimen size on compressive strength of coal.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 5 (4): 325–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(68)90004-1.
Bieniawski, Z. T., and M. J., Bernede. 1979. “Suggested methods for determining the uniaxial compressive strength and deformability of rock materials. Part 1: Suggested method for determining deformability of rock materials in uniaxial compression.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Sci. Geomech. Astr. 16 (2): 138–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(79)91451-7.
Brace, W. F. 1963. “A note on brittle crack growth in compression.” J. Geophys. Res. 68 (12): 3709–3713. https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ068i012p03709.
Brace, W. F., B. W. Paulding, and C. Scholz. 1966. “Dilatancy in the fracture of crystalline rocks.” J. Geophys. Res. 71 (16): 3939–3953. https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ071i016p03939.
Cao, R. H., P. Cao, H. Lin, C. Z. Pu, and K. Ou. 2016. “Mechanical behavior of brittle rock-like specimens with pre-existing fissures under uniaxial loading: Experimental studies and particle mechanics approach.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 49 (3): 763–783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-015-0779-x.
Danzer, R. 1992. “A general strength distribution function for brittle materials.” J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 10 (6): 461–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/0955-2219(92)90021-5.
Das, S. K., and P. K. Basudhar. 2006. “Comparison study of parameter estimation techniques for rock failure criterion models.” Can Geotech J. 43 (7): 764–771. https://doi.org/10.1139/t06-041.
Das, S. K., and P. K. Basudhar. 2009. “Comparison of intact rock failure criteria using various statistical methods.” Acta Geotech. 4 (3): 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-009-0088-1.
Germanovich, L. N., and A. V. Dyskin. 2000. “Fracture mechanisms and instability of openings in compression.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 37 (1–2): 263–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1365-1609(99)00105-7.
Germanovich, L. N., R. L. Salganik, A. V. Dyskin, and K. K. Lee. 1994. “Mechanisms of brittle fracture of rock with pre-existing cracks in compression.” Pure Appl. Geophys. 143 (1–3): 117–149. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874326.
Guha Roy, R. D., and T. N. Singh. 2016. “Effect of heat treatment and layer orientation on the tensile strength of a crystalline rock under Brazilian test condition.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 49 (5): 1663–1677. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-015-0891-y.
Haeri, H., K. Shahriar, M. F. Marji, and P. Moarefvand. 2014. “Experimental and numerical study of crack propagation and coalescence in pre-cracked rock-like disks.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 67 (Apr): 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2014.01.008.
Hallbauer, D. K., H. Wagner, and N. G. W. Cook. 1973. “Some observations concerning the microscopic and mechanical behaviour of quartzite specimens in stiff, triaxial compression tests.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr. 10 (6): 713–726. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(73)90015-6.
Hoek, E., and Z. T. Bieniawski. 1965. “Brittle fracture propagation in rock under compression.” Int. J. Fracture 1 (3): 137–155. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00186851.
Hudson, J., S. Crouch, and C. Fairhurst. 1972. “Soft, stiff and servo-controlled testing machines: A review with reference to rock failure.” Eng. Geol. 6 (3): 155–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(72)90001-4.
ISRM (International Society for Rock Mechanics). 1978. “Suggested methods for determining tensile strength of rock materials.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Sci. Geomech. Astr. 15 (3): 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(78)90003-7.
Kaklis, K., and I. Vardoulakis. 2004. “An experimental investigation of the size effect in indirect tensile test on Dionysos marble.” In Vol. 2 of Proc., 7th National Congress on Mechanics, 151–157. Chania, Greece: Technical Univ. of Crete.
Keller, A. 1998. “High resolution, non-destructive measurement and characterization of fracture apertures.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 35 (8): 1037–1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-9062(98)00164-8.
Ketcham, R. 2010. “Three-dimensional measurement of fractures in heterogeneous materials using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography.” Geosphere 6 (5): 499. https://doi.org/10.1130/GES00552.1.
Khanlari, G., B. Rafiei, and Y. Abdilor. 2014. “An experimental investigation of the Brazilian tensile strength and failure patterns of laminated sandstones.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 48 (2): 843–852. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-014-0576-y.
Koerner, R. M., W. M. McCabe, and A. E. Lord. 1981. “Overview of acoustic emission monitoring of rock structures.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 14 (1): 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239775.
Lai, Y., S. Li, J. Qi, Z. Gao, and X. Chang. 2008. “Strength distributions of warm frozen clay and its stochastic damage constitutive model.” Cold Reg. Sci. Technol. 53 (2): 200–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.11.001.
Martin, C. D., and N. A. Chandler. 1994. “The progressive fracture of Lac du Bonnet granite.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 31 (6): 643–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(94)90005-1.
Okabe, T., and N. Takeda. 2002. “Size effect on tensile strength of unidirectional CFRP composites—Experiments and simulation.” Compos. Sci. Technol. 62 (15): 2053–2064. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-3538(02)00146-X.
Palchik, V. 2010. “Mechanical behavior of carbonate rocks at crack damage stress equal to uniaxial compressive strength.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 43 (4): 497–503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-009-0042-4.
Parameswaran, V. R., and S. J. Jones. 1975. “Brittle fracture of ice at 77 K.” J. Glaciol. 14 (71): 305–315. https://doi.org/10.3189/S002214300020066X.
Pratt, H. R., A. D. Black, W. S. Brown, and W. F. Brace. 1972. “The effect of specimen size on the mechanical properties of unjointed diorite.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 9 (4): 513–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(72)90042-3.
Rousseeuw, P. J. 1998. “Robust estimation and identifying outliers.” In Handbook of statistical method for engineers and scientists, edited by H. M. Wadsworth. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Sui, W. H., H. Qu, and Y. Gao. 2015. “Modeling of grout propagation in transparent replica of rock fractures.” Geotech. Test J. 38 (5): 765–773. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20140188.
Thompson, G. A. 2004. “Determining the slow crack growth parameter and Weibull two-parameter estimates of bilaminate disks by constant displacement-rate flexural testing.” Dent. Mater. 20 (1): 51–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0109-5641(03)00068-X.
Tumidajski, P. J., L. Fiore, T. Khodabocus, M. Lachemi, and R. Pari. 2006. “Comparison of Weibull and normal distribution for concrete compressive strengths.” Can. J. Civ. Eng. 33 (10): 1287–1292. https://doi.org/10.1139/l06-080.
Voorn, M., U. Exner, A. Barnhoorn, P. Baud, and T. Reuschle. 2015. “Porosity, permeability and 3D fracture network characterisation of dolomite reservoir rock samples.” J. Petrol. Sci. Eng. 127 (Mar): 270–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2014.12.019.
Wachtman, J. B. 1974. “Highlights of progress in the science of fracture of ceramics and glass.” J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 57 (12): 509–519. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1974.tb10799.x.
Wang, H., M. N. Aboushelib, and A. J. Feilzer. 2008. “Strength influencing variables on CAD/CAM zirconia frameworks.” Dent. Mater. 24 (5): 633–638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2007.06.030.
Wawersik, W. R., and W. F. Brace. 1971. “Post-failure behavior of a granite and diabase.” Rock Mech. 3 (2): 61–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239627.
Wawersik, W. R., and C. Fairhurst. 1970. “A study of brittle rock fracture in laboratory compression experiments.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 7 (5): 561–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(70)90007-0.
Wong, L. N. Y., and M. C. Jong. 2014. “Water saturation effects on the Brazilian tensile strength of gypsum and assessment of cracking processes using high-speed video.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 47 (4): 1103–1115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0436-1.
Wong, R. H. C., M. L. Huang, M. R. Jiao, and C. A. Tang. 2003. “Crack propagation in brittle solid containing 3D surface fracture under uniaxial compression.” [In Chinese.] Supplement, Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 22 (S1): 2145–2148.
Wong, R. H. C., P. Lin, and C. A. Tang. 2006. “Experimental and numerical study on splitting failure of brittle solids containing single pore under uniaxial compression.” Mech. Mater. 38 (1–2): 142–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmat.2005.05.017.
Yang, S. Q., H. W. Jing, and S. Y. Wang. 2012. “Experimental investigation on the strength, deformability, failure behavior and acoustic emission locations of red sandstone under triaxial compression.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 45 (4): 583–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-011-0208-8.
Yu, Y., J. M. Yin, and Z. W. Zhong. 2006. “Shape effects in the Brazilian tensile strength test and a 3D FEM correction.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 43 (4): 623–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2005.09.005.
Zabler, S., A. Rack, I. Manke, K. Thermann, and J. Tiedemann. 2008. “High-resolution tomography of cracks, voids and micro-structure in greywacke and limestone.” J. Struct. Geol. 30 (7): 876–887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2008.03.002.
Zeng, L., L. Y. Xiao, J. H. Zhang, and Q. F. Gao. 2020. “Effect of the characteristics of surface cracks on the transient saturated zones in colluvial soil slopes during rainfall.” B. Eng. Geol. Environ. 79 (2): 699–709. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01584-1.
Zhang, J. H., J. H. Peng, L. Zeng, J. Li, and F. Li. 2019. “Rapid estimation of resilient modulus of subgrade soils using performance-related soil properties.” Int. J. Pavement Eng. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2019.1643022.
Zhang, X. P., and L. N. Y. Wong. 2012. “Cracking processes in rock-like material containing a single flaw under uniaxial compression: A numerical study based on parallel bonded-particle model approach.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 45 (5): 711–737. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-011-0176-z.
Zhao, X. G., M. Cai, J. Wang, and P. F. Li. 2015. “Strength comparison between cylindrical and prism specimens of Beishan granite under uniaxial compression.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 76 (Jun): 10–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2015.02.009.
Zhou, J., and X. Chen. 2013. “Stress-strain behavior and statistical continuous damage model of cement mortar under high strain rates.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 25 (1): 120–130. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000570.
Zhu, Z. D., H. X. Lin, and Y. L. Sun. 2017. “An experimental study of internal 3D crack propagation and coalescence in transparent rock.” [In Chinese.] Rock Soil Mech. 37 (4): 913–928.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32 • Issue 10 • October 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 25, 2018
Accepted: Feb 28, 2020
Published online: Jul 16, 2020
Published in print: Oct 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Dec 16, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.