The compression loading of solid spheres of plaster of Paris

Brittle solid spheres of plaster of Paris with and without bosses (i.e. cylindrical projections) and truncated spheres with two symmetrical circular flat ends were subjected to static loading and to explosive point loading from a detonator. The resulting terminal fracture patterns are shown and discussed. A characteristic feature of the fracturing modes is the formation of well defined cones at the loading region and the opposite end of the specimen.