Abstract
The potential of crack deflection and crack bridging as competing toughening mechanisms is reviewed. Available measurement techniques take a crucial role where it is required to distinguish between toughening increments associated with crack tip processes and crack wake processes near the crack tip. Particular emphasis is placed on measurements of the crack opening displacement. It is concluded that crack deflection has only small potential as a toughening mechanism compared to crack bridging, but is required to activate crack closure stresses associated with bridging ligaments. This simple realization defines a window of microstructural parameters in which crack deflection is active and where crack bridging parameters can be optimized.
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