An analysis of the Brazilian disk fracture test using the Weibull probabilistic treatment of brittle strength

It is pointed out that the Weibull multiaxial treatment of brittle strength contains limitations which are not present in the more familiar uniaxial formulation. Provided these limitations are satisfied, it is possible to use tension or bending data to predict multiaxial behavior when at least one principal stress is tensile. This is illustrated for the Brazilian disk test (diametral compression of a disk). Predictions based on bending tests agree well with observed strength values in disk tests on two types of rocks.