A Method of Measuring Crack Propagation Rates in Brittle Materials

摘要

A method of measuring the rate of crack propagation is described. The method, applicable to any specimen having a smooth surface across which brittle-type fracture will occur, is accomplished by means of a fine gridwork of conducting lines applied to the specimen by various vacuum deposition techniques. When a potential is applied to the grid, a direct reading of current (or distance) versus time is obtained with a strip chart recorder or equivalent device. The method has been applied to the study of brittle-type fracture associated with stress corrosion cracking observed in titanium alloys. (Author)