Quantitative Studies of Thermal Shock Based Upon a Novel Test Technique

A thermal shock test was designed which permits the thermal fracture resistance and the mechanical strength of brittle materials to be quantitatively correlated. Thermal shock results for two materials, Al_2O_3 and SiC, were accurately predicted from biaxial strength measurements and a transient thermal stress analysis (performed using a finite element method). General implications for the prediction of thermal shock resistance, with special reference to ceramic components, are discussed.