A Controlled Flaw Technique for Lifetime Characterization

A new technique for studying the lifetime characterstics of brittle materials is presented. The technique involves the use of controlled identification flawa and treats time‐to‐failure as an experimentally fixed parameter rather than a dependent variable. Experimental advantages include specimen economy and unambiguous data analysis (for example, no specimens or results are lost due to test “run‐out”). The technique is applied to a borosilicate glass and the data compared with indentation fracture mechanics predicitions from a previous study. The data show the significant effects of reactive environment, in this case water, to reduce the failure stress of components. Copyright © 1993, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved