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Crack Growth in Sapphire

Published

Author(s)

Sheldon M. Wiederhorn, Ralph Krause

Abstract

Crack growth was studied in sapphire on both the m-plane and the r-plane (rhombohedral twin plane). Crack growth on the m-plane fit a power law function of stress intensity factor and an Arrhenius function of temperature. Crack growth on r-plane double torsion specimens was irregular. Spurts of growth on the r-plane were mixed with propagation on rough surfaces. Control of crack growth was not possible. Our studies suggest that r-plane fracture requires a lower KI than that on the m-plane. We suggest that propagation on the r-plane may be associated with twinning at the crack tip during or prior to crack growth.
Proceedings Title
Composites, Advanced Ceramics, Materials, and Structures, Annual Conference | 26th | | American Ceramic Society
Volume
23
Issue
No. 3
Conference Dates
January 1, 2002
Conference Title
Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings

Keywords

crack growth, dynamic fatigue fracture, lifetime, sapphire

Citation

Wiederhorn, S. and Krause, R. (2002), Crack Growth in Sapphire, Composites, Advanced Ceramics, Materials, and Structures, Annual Conference | 26th | | American Ceramic Society (Accessed April 19, 2024)
Created January 1, 2002, Updated February 19, 2017