Failure Mechanisms

Introduction

· At large enough strains, materials tested in uniaxial tension fail by fracture.
· The nature of the fracture is dependent upon the strain rate, sample temperature, and the materials chemistry and microstructure.
· Fracture forms for materials tested at low constant strain rate in uniaxial tension are illustrated.

· Rupture (a) is for a highly ductile material that necks down to a point or line: gold, indium; Ductile fracture (b) shown for a typical polycrystalline ductile material: aluminum, iron; and Brittle fracture (c) for materials such as glass and high carbon steel.

From: Callister, "Materials Science and Engineering," Wiley (1994)