Elastic Constants Determination and Deformation Observation Using Brazilian Disk Geometry

Brazilian disk compression has been proposed as an alternative for measuring elastic constants of brittle solids with very low tensile strength (Hondros, Aust J Appl Sci 10:243–268, 1959). Subsequently however, the Brazilian disk geometry was mainly used for measuring fracture toughness and tensile strength of brittle materials, like rocks and concretes. In this study, we revisit the Brazilian disk specimen as a tool for determining elastic constants and for observing the deformation process up to failure. We used the optical digital image correlation (DIC) technique to obtain the displacement field on the specimen surface and proposed a scheme for determining the elastic constants from the measured displacement field and the applied load. Details of the elastic constant determination of a homogeneous material, epoxy resin, were presented. Comparison of the elastic constant measured using Brazilian disk with those obtained through more conventional means was carried out. We also present observations of the deformation evolution of the epoxy resin disk subjected to large nonlinear deformation up to failure and subjected to compressive loading and unloading.