Abstract
Half disc specimens containing a single edge crack are subjected to bending loads to determine the fracture toughness of Welsh limestone. The crack tip stress intensity factor was calibrated by a finite element program, PAFEC, this program also being used to study the three dimensional fracture problem. It was found that the stress intensity factor and J-integral varied with the position along the leading edge of the crack. Bending tests were conducted on a sophisticated servo-controlled stiff testing machine and linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs) were used to monitor crack opening displacement ( COD). The testing results show that fracture toughness of Welsh limestone is significantly dependent on crack length and specimen size but insignificantly dependent on specimen thickness. Moisture content of specimens was found to have little effect on fracture toughness. The plane-strain fracture toughness for Welsh limestone was found to be 0.85 MPa√m and minimum specimen dimensions were calculated to be 25 mm.
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