Abstract

Lifetime tests under static load are often carried out in order to determine the relation v(K) of subcritical crack growth. Depending on the scatter behavior of the most serious cracks in a specimen, a number of specimens will not fracture within a certain maximum lifetime limit. In order to get additional information on subcritical crack growth behavior, the authors recommend performing lifetime tests at an increased load level. An appropriate procedure for the evaluation of such tests is proposed and applied to static lifetime measurements on SiAlON in distilled water.