Response of inherently brittle materials on higher loading rates

Generally, there are components loaded in a wide spectrum of loading rates, however most of design work is based on the data obtained using quasi-statical and uniaxial loading conditions. In the case of inherently brittle materials the situation is all the more complicated because of their brittleness. Cast basalt and soda-lime glass were the main experimental materials used in this investigation as representatives of natural based and structural brittle materials. The main aim of the paper is to investigate influence of strain rate on fracture resistance and to analyze response of the microstructure to high strain rate loading including the change of mechanical properties.