Fracture toughness evaluation of slip-cast fused silica via the single edge V-notched beam method

Slip-Cast Fused Silica (SCFS) is a highly resistant ceramic to environmental factors, including heat. Its unique properties, such as high resistance to thermal shocks have led to its wide application as an electromagnetic window material. The main purpose of the present research is to determine the fracture toughness of SCFS. To achieve this, the ASTM C1421 standard, which provides methods for determining fracture toughness of advanced ceramics, was initially followed. After a careful examination of the requirements of each method, the precracked beam method was ultimately chosen for determining the fracture toughness. However, due to the porous nature of the material, creating a precrack proved to be challenging and unfeasible through trial and error. Therefore, the method of single edge V-notched beam (SEVNB) was utilized, known for its applicability to porous materials. The characteristics of this method and the fracture toughness results determined using it are detailed in this research.