Buy article online - an online subscription or single-article purchase is required to access this article.
Download citation
Download citation
link to html
The ability to achieve uniform stress in uniaxial compression tests of polycrystalline alumina is of significance for the calibration of piezospectroscopic coefficients as well as strength studies in ceramics. In this study high-energy X-rays were used to capture powder diffraction profiles over a half-section of a polycrystalline alumina parallelepiped sample under an increasing uniaxial compressive load. The data were converted to strain and results were used for stress mapping of the sample. Stress maps from the study quantify the higher stresses at the sample-platen contact interface and reveal the evolution of the stress distribution in these specimens with load. For the geometry of the samples used, at the center section of the specimen the overall magnitudes of the compressive stresses were found to be 20% higher compared with the average expected theoretical stress based on the applied load and cross-sectional area. The observed compressive stresses at the corners of the parallelepiped specimen were 62% higher and shear stresses were observed at the specimen interface to the load mechanism. The effects, seen at the interface, can lead to premature failure at these locations and can affect the accuracy of calibration of spectral peaks with stress as well as compression strength measurements. The results provide important information that can be used to establish guidelines on material and geometry considerations in developing compression tests on high-strength ceramics.

Subscribe to Journal of Synchrotron Radiation

The full text of this article is available to subscribers to the journal.

If you have already registered and are using a computer listed in your registration details, please email support@iucr.org for assistance.

Buy online

You may purchase this article in PDF and/or HTML formats. For purchasers in the European Community who do not have a VAT number, VAT will be added at the local rate. Payments to the IUCr are handled by WorldPay, who will accept payment by credit card in several currencies. To purchase the article, please complete the form below (fields marked * are required), and then click on `Continue'.
E-mail address* 
Repeat e-mail address* 
(for error checking) 

Format*   PDF (US $40)
   HTML (US $40)
   PDF+HTML (US $50)
In order for VAT to be shown for your country javascript needs to be enabled.

VAT number 
(non-UK EC countries only) 
Country* 
 

Terms and conditions of use
Contact us

Follow J. Synchrotron Rad.
Sign up for e-alerts
Follow J. Synchrotron Rad. on Twitter
Follow us on facebook
Sign up for RSS feeds