A new assessment method for the bulk modulus and the Poisson's ratio of porous ceramics

A new assessment method for the elastic moduli of porous materials is propo sed. This method is based on a linear correlation between the Young's and t he shear moduli of a given porous material. It is shown that such a correla tion prevails for ceramics (Al2O3, ThO2, and ZnO) and for glass (SiO2) havi ng Poisson's ratios of the solid bulk in the range of 0.15 < nu(o) less tha n or equal to 0.36. The outcome of the new assessment method is the use of either an elastic modulus or a sound velocity as the parameter for non-dest ructive assessment of the bulk and the Poisson's ratio of porous ceramics. These findings open a simplified route to quantitative non-destructive eval uation (QNDE) of the elastic moduli of porous materials.