The ball on three balls test - Strength and failure analysis of different materials

The ball on three balls (B3B) test is a new method for biaxial strength testing of brittle materials. A detailed analysis of the stress field in the specimens and of possible measuring errors has been made recently. The B3B-testing method has several advantages compared to common three-or four-point bending tests: for example, the edges of the specimen have no influence on the testing results, small geometrical inaccuracies of the specimens or of the test jig have only a little effect on the maximum tensile stress and friction is of minor significance. Therefore the B3B-test seems to be suitable for miniaturisation. In this paper the practical applicability of the B3B-test is investigated by measuring the strength of three ceramic materials having a low (electro ceramics), an intermediate (alumina) and a high (silicon nitride) strength. Specimens of different size (the smallest specimens had a volume of less than 1 mm(3)) with polished or with as-sintered surface were tested. The results are compared with bending test results. In total more than 600 strength tests were performed. A pronounced size effect on strength could be observed, which is discussed in the framework of fracture statistics (Weibull theory). In summary the B3B-test has been proven to be a cheap and easy new testing method, which can be used to determine the biaxial strength of brittle materials and which is particularly well suited for the testing of very small specimen. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.