The actual boundary conditions in the Flattened Brazilian Disc test

Abstract

In the present study an attempt is made to assess a recently presented analytical approach to the problem of the contact stresses developed along the Flattened Brazilian Disc (FBD) – loading platen interface, during the implementation of the homonymous test. In this direction, a finite element model was constructed, resembling both the FBD and the platen, using the commercially available software ABAQUS. As it is seen, the predictions of the numerical analysis for the stresses induced at the interface and inside FBD are in a satisfactory agreement with the analytical ones, justifying the proposed analytic approach for the FBD configuration. In this context, it is concluded that FBD does significantly reduce the stress severity at contact region, however, the end points of the flat edges of the FBD now become points of increased stress magnitudes so that care should be taken during the preparation of the specimens regarding the cutting process at these points.