Abstract
A four-point bending test was carried out on sintered Si3N4 at room temperature to investigate the effect of pre-compression on the static strength of ceramics. The static strength distribution for virgin specimens was compared with that for pre-compression specimens by Weibull plot, and the fracture features of both specimens were examined. It was known that the strength of virgin specimens was not decreased by pre-compressive stress. On the contrary, the pre-compressive stress seemed to increase the strength of virgin specimens under a certain condition.
