Controlled Crack Growth with a Dual-Tip Indenter

A new indentation tip with two rectangular pads is proposed.These pads are loaded, located to the sides of any pre-existing crack, forexample, as developed from a Vickers micro-indentation. From thecontrolled growth of these cracks it is possible to compute differentFracture Mechanics parameters such as the critical stress intensity factor ofthe material or the arrest stress intensity factor for brittle materials. Anexample of its application to common soda-lime glass is described.