Abstract
The fracture behaviour of alloys with a pearlitic matrix and lamellar and spherulitic graphite has been compared. Fatigue crack growth functions were measured and various critical stress intensities obtained from load-displacement curves. An analysis of microstructure in the uncracked and cracked state served as the base for a discussion of quantitative models for the relation between microstructure and bulk fracture mechanical properties. In addition to volume fraction and shape of graphite, crack branching (and eventually transformation of residual austenite) are required to explain the resistance of grey cast irons against stable and unstable crack growth. It is concluded that the standard methods for the evaluation of fracture mechanical properties are not satisfactory especially for cast irons with lamellar graphite.
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