Effect of notch-tip geometry on the fracture toughness of fine-grained isotropic graphite

Matsushima, Yuki*; Yamada, Teruaki*; Kuroda, Masatoshi*; Sumita, Junya ; Shibata, Taiju ; Sawa, Kazuhiro

In order to investigate the effect of notch-tip geometry on the fracture toughness of fine-grained isotropic graphite ETU-10, three-point-bending fracture toughness tests have been performed by using two types of single-edge notched beam specimens with different notch angles of approximately 15 and 30. The values of the fracture toughness were calculated based on linear elastic fracture mechanics by using the maximum force which could be obtained by the load-displacement curve. As a result, the values of the fracture toughness of the specimens with the notch angles of approximately 15 and 30 were 0.933 MPa mand 0.926 MPa m, respectively. This suggested that the values of the fracture toughness were not affected between the notch angles. Further work has been ongoing to discuss the effect of the notch-tip geometry such as angle and root radius of notch in terms of finite element analysis.