The New ASTM Fracture Toughness of Advanced Ceramics Standard

An American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) fracture toughness standard has been created for advanced ceramics that includes three test methods : chevron notch, single-edged precracked beam, and surface crack in flexure procedure. Supporting data has been collected through several Versailles Advanced Materials and Standards round robins. This standard has been developed as a joint undertaking of ASTM Committees C-28, Advanced Ceramics and E-08, Fracture and Fatigue. This paper discusses the evolution of this standard including the rationale for the choice of the three methods and some of the specifications.