It is evident that the name of the test, wedge-splitting, is quite a representative description. It has an elaborate fixture arrangement within a starter notch configuration and two side notches to restrict crack wandering during the actual test. It is loaded in compression and is able to generate fracture parameters from analysis of the load-displacement curve. Because of the specimen size and the large fracture surface area, there is generally no difficulty in obtaining fully stable fractures for
refractories, and thus a reliable record of the total energy for crack propagation through the specimen is easily obtained with a stiff testing machine.