Fracture of glass in the presence of H2O

Abstract

Direct examination of crack-generated surfaces has shown that the stress intensity values conventionally calculated require correction if slow crack growth in glass is to be understood quantitatively. The effect of water in diminishing the strength of glass and in lowering the stress required to run a crack at a particular velocity in the slow growth range has been well documented [1]. However, the models chosen to represent the observed effects quantitatively have been incomplete. It is the present purpose to review certain aspects that have been reported already [2 to 3] and to present additional results and considerations.