Comparison between flexural and uniaxial compression tests to measure the elastic modulus of silica aerogel

The Young’s moduli of a set of silica aerogels have been measured by two techniques: 3-point bending and uniaxial compression. The data found by the two methods differ strongly. The uniaxial compression test gives generally underestimated values of Young’s modulus, because of geometrical effects. The appropriate gauge lengths were estimated based on the discussion of Euler buckling and nonuniform stress distribution. The measured compressive moduli were analyzed to correct for machine compliance and possible misalignment under compression of the aerogels. Similarly, moduli obtained by 3-point bending depend on the length/thickness ratio of the sample, reaching equilibrium only for ratios above about 10. The corrected compressive moduli were comparable to those measured by 3-point bending on samples of sufficient length.