Fracture and Cohesive Parameter Identification of Refractories by Digital Image Correlation Up to 1200°C

International audienceThe mechanical and fracture properties of refractory ceramics are determined by means of an inverse identification procedure between experimental data and numerical simulations. An experimental setup is proposed to perform Wedge Splitting Tests (WST) at elevated temperature with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to assess the crack propagation. The ceramic Young's Modulus, fracture energy and strength are determined by indirect confrontation to Finite Element simulations of crack propagation in WST specimens employing Cohesive Zone Modeling (CZM). The variations of the force and crack length are used to set an inverse problem for estimating the material parameters for various temperatures. The method, illustrated through the analysis of an industrial refractory ceramic from 25 • C to 1200 • C, combines experimental and numerical approaches to understand and optimize the fracture behaviour of refractories in application