Strength evaluation of flake and spheroidal graphite cast irons using diametral compression test

The diametral compression test also known as the Brazilian test is an old and unique method of measuring tensile strength of brittle materials owing to simple specimen geometry test conditions and quickness of testing. However, its practice in measuring the strength of the metals is quite limited. This work therefore attempts to apply diametral compression test with specimens of thickness to diameter ratio equal to 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 in determining the tensile and compressive strengths of Flake Graphite (FG) and Spheroidal Graphite (SG) types of cast iron. Cracks developed in the FG and SG specimens indicate that the failures were caused by tensile and shear stress respectively. In case of FG cast iron specimens at lower t/d ratio, the stress state becomes biaxial and influence of tensile stress was found to be higher than the compressive stress. Whereas the biaxial stress condition violates in SG cast iron specimens. The present work concludes the suitability of diametral compression test at any t/d ratio of FG cast iron specimens and only at lower t/d ratios of SG cast iron specimens.