This paper describes the results of theoretical studies on the effect of non-uniform stress fields limited to those encountered in prismatic beams under bending, upon the fracture of brittle materials. Derivations were carried out to determine the risk of rupture of bending specimens subjected to a symmetrical four-point load of arbitrary spacing, the symmetric three-point loading and pure bending forming limiting cases of this more general loading. The analysis was based on materials obeying the Weibull distribution function with assumptions for either volumetric ' or surface flaw dispersion conditions. Comparisons are presented between the predicted strengths of bending and tensile specimens.
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