Breaking Strength of Smart Interconnected Ceramic Elements

The integration of lighting in ceramic elements can lead to a set of important applications nowadays in different context. The project Light in Tiles aims to develop ceramic element units with incorporated programable lights. For this purpose, it is necessary to embed the necessary wires that feed the light sources into the ceramic, which must be prepared with a set of cut-outs and holes so that the wires can be embedded. Given that the holes weaken the ceramic component, it is important to understand the decrease in mechanical strength associated with the need for these holes and cut-outs. This work compares the mechanical behaviour of a ceramic element considering three different situations: whole ceramic element without any cut-out or hole, ceramic element with open cut-outs and holes, ceramic element with cut-outs and holes filled with epoxy resin for sealing the wires and lighting.