Recent development in quantitative fractography

This constitutes an attempt at solving two basic problems of quantitative fractography: determination of the real area of the fracture surface and indication of the factors quantitatively differentiating fractures of various morphologies. Accomplishing this task by analyzing real fractures is extremely difficult as the research is very time- and labor-consuming. The multitude of factors determining the morphology of the fracture may further impede an unequivocal interpretation of the results obtained. Model studies are free from those drawbacks. On the basis of literature data, models of both continuous and intergranular fractures are developed. It is established that model fractures of various morphologies can be differentiated with the aid of a mean profile curvature. The results of the model studies have been verified on Armco iron samples tested in Tenvion at room temperature and in liquid nitrogen.