Crack Initiation and

Propagation in Ductile and

Brittle Materials
Introduction
What is fracture?
Separation by applied stress

Two different types of fracture
-Ductile
-Brittle

Why study fracture mechanics?
Reduction of risk
Safety of public
Reduction of cost
Repairs, replacement

Griffith Theory of Brittle Fracture
where
U : the total potential energy of the system
U0: the elastic energy of the uncracked plate.
Ua: the decrease in the elastic energy caused by introducing the crack in
the plate.
Ug: the increase in the elastic-surface energy caused by the formation of
the crack surfaces.
Fig. 1 Fractograph of ductile cast
iron showing a trans-granular
fracture surface
Fig. 2 Fractograph of an inter-
granular fracture surface
Strain Energy Model
where
E = modulus of elasticity
gs= specific surface energy
a = one half the length of an internal crack
Model for calculation
where
G: the strain energy release rate.
gp: plastic deformation energy associated with crack extension.
gs: the specific surface energy
Ductile Fracture
Stages in ductile fracture
Initiation
Necking
Microvoids form
Microvoids enlarge to form crack
Crack spreads laterally
Rapid crack propagation with 45 degree
angle
Final shearing
Fig. 4 Rough, irregular
dimpled surface
Fig. 5 Image depicts microvoids
Stress intensity factor
Magnitude of stress around crack tip
where
s = remote stress applied to component (not to be confused
with the local stresses, sij
a = crack length
f (a/w) = correction factor that depends on specimen and crack
geometry
The energy of fracture
where
dt: the energy of fracture necessary for the formation of a new
fracture surface area.
G: the energy released into the crack tip per unit area of the
crack (rate of elastic strain energy release).
d: the crack growth increment.
Energy release rate (plane Strain)
where
G: the energy release rate.
n: Poisson's Ratio.
K: the stress intensity factor.
E: the modulus of elasticity.
Energy release rate (plane Stress)
G=K2/E

where
G: the energy release rate.
K: the stress intensity factor.
E: the modulus of elasticity.
Modes of cracking
Fig. 7 Three modes of cracking.
Final Equation after combination of
energy release rate and mode of
cracking
Fig. 8 Cracked Body
P: the potential energy of the external forces.
F: the generalized force per unit thickness.
D: the corresponding load-point displacement
Crack Speed and Kinetic Energy
where
Ekin: the kinetic energy.
G: the energy release rate.
R: the force of crack resistance
The assumptions taken for the model are:
crack propagation takes place under constant stress
the elastic energy release rate does not depend upon crack speed
the crack growth resistance R is constant

Crack Growth using Energy
Theories
/Vs is defined in the graph to be growth rate of the average crack
Summary
Ductile Brittle
deformation extensive little
crack propagation slow, needs stress fast
type of materials most metals (not too
cold)
ceramics, ice, cold
metals
warning permanent elongation none
strain energy higher lower
fractured surface rough smoother
necking yes no