Determination of mode I fracture toughness of brittle materials with a new method

Abstract

In this work, the fracture toughness of limestone was determined utilizing advantage edge-notched disc (END) type specimens. The normalized Phase I stress high transformational of limestone was calculated using a novel method. The samples’ Mode I (opening)-fracture toughness was accurately calculated using the flexible finite element method (FEM) to develop this helpful formula. The notched Brazilian discs (NBD) were used in a lab experiment to test the accuracy of the END procedure. To recreate these tests numerically and verify the correctness of the fracture toughness measurements, a discrete element analysis of the END tests was also performed. The findings of the numerical simulations and the fracture extension patterns derived from the experimental testing showed excellent agreement. The toughness levels determined by END studies, however, were less than those specified by NBD testing. This is because the notch in the END limestone sample has a uniform tensile stress distribution.