Abstract
Unstable fracture has been observed in high strength aluminium alloys, associated with a change in mode from transgranular to intergranular fracture after a short, stable crack extension. The change in fracture mode is accompanied by a drop in toughness and a sudden crack extension by rapid fracture until crack arrest occurs. Fast fracture is reinitiated after crack arrest when the applied stress intesity factor is raised to the level of the quasi-static toughness. The degree of instability, as measured by the length of the fast crack extension, depends on the prior heat treatment and the test temperature. It is believed that fast fracture may be triggered by the microfracture of brittle second phase particles. A simple model is used to relate toughness to the microstructural features of the fracture surface.
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