The initiation and propagation of thermal shock cracks in graphite

Thermal shock resistance of a commercial grade of graphite was studied using an arc-discharge test. The thermal shock fracture initiation and crack propagation behaviour of the graphite disks at different input power levels were determined and analysed using fracture mechanics. The temperature gradient was measured experimentally and the profiles were force fitted with an even fourth-order polynomial. The thermal stresses were calculated from the force fits. A radial notch was introduced to the disk specimens to enable calculation of the thermal stress intensity factors. The crack mouth opening displacement was monitored using a special displacement transducer. The thermal stress and stress intensity factors were found to increase with increasing input current (and hence increasing thermal gradient). The thermal shock fracture toughness determined using the arc-discharge technique was found to increase from 0.8 to 1.4 MPa m1/2 at temperatures from 220 to 420 °C. The longer the notch length, the shorter the time to crack, the smaller the crack mouth opening displacement jump and the shorter the unstable crack growth.