Estimation of Fracture Energy from Fracture Surface Roughness

摘要

The fracture properties of engineering components or structural members can change during service. Post-failure estimation of these properties can be difficult and costly if the component is either contaminated (e.g., radioactive) or is too small to prepare reliable specimens for standard laboratory fracture tests. In either case, specimens are usually obtained from material that is a finite distance away from the actual fracture surface. This paper describes a method whereby the local fracture energy at the crack may be estimated from measurements of the fracture surface roughness, or from a replica of the surface. The method is based on fractals, and patenting is in progress at this writing. The advantages and current limitations of the method are described herein. 8 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.