The mechanical properties and reliability aspects of advanced transparent fineand
coarse-grained MgAl2O4 spinel have been characterized at ambient and high
temperature. The studies were based on a combination of micro- and macro-mechanical
methods to assess Young’s modulus, hardness, fracture toughness, strength and crack
growth kinetics. The results and reliability aspects are discussed in terms of linear elastic
fracture mechanics. Strength was analyzed using two- and three-parameter Weibull
statistics. The experimental limits of Young’s modulus determination using standard ringon-
ring testing are highlighted, and an approach is outlined to correct the measured
apparent values. Experimentally obtained strength data as a function of loading rate are
used to assess the potential effect of subcritical crack growth, yielding the failure time
under static loading, via a strength/probability/time plot for a lifetime prediction.
Furthermore, the Brinell indentation showed potential for local strength measurement and
the data supported a strength-loaded area relationship that was based on the ring-on-ring
test data. Novel experimental methods were implemented for fracture determination and
strain detection. Particular attention was directed to the effect of defects and associated
local strain fields, as assessed using polarized light in photoelastic measurements.
Complementary fractography by optical, confocal and scanning electron microscopy
provided a correlation between failure initiating defect size and fracture stress.
Oleg Tokariev