Fractal Nature of the Brittle Fracture Surfaces of Metal

• DOI: 10.1007/s11003-005-0132-8
• Publication Date: 2005-09-15T15:39:16Z
• Authors: V. V. Usov; N. M. Shkatulyak
• Keywords: Brittleness; Brittle fracture; Structural material

We have studied the fracture surfaces of low-alloy low-perlite steel after impact bending tests and of aluminum wire after fatigue failure at different temperatures. We have established that the fracture surfaces after brittle destruction are fractal surfaces. On the basis of the fractal model of a crack and the determined fractal dimensionalities of the boundaries of fracture surfaces, we have evaluated the critical sizes of brittle cracks.