Fracture Toughness Properties Research Articles

Compressive Property and Toughening Mechanism of Directionally Solidified Fe(Al, Ta)/Fe2Ta (Al) Eutectic Composites

Herein, Fe(Al, Ta)/Fe2Ta(Al) eutectic composites are prepared using the electron beam floating zone melting directional solidification technique. The compression and fracture toughness properties of Fe(Al, Ta)/Fe2Ta(Al) eutectic composites at different solidification rates are studied with compression and three‐point bending experiments. The toughening mechanism of the material is also analyzed from morphology, composition, and microstructure. The results show that the yield strength and compression properties of the Fe(Al, Ta)/Fe2Ta(Al) eutectic composite are increased with the increase of the solidification rate. The room‐temperature fracture toughness reaches 30.5 MPa m1/2 when the solidification rate is 4 mm min−1. In addition, the material exhibits high strength performance at room temperature. However, it exhibits poor strength and excellent plasticity due to the softening effect of recrystallization at 600 °C. The toughening mechanism of the Fe(Al, Ta)/Fe2Ta(Al) eutectic composites can be summarized as crack blunting, crack branching, crack deflection, and local deformation.

Evaluation of novel urethane dimethacrylates as crosslinkers for the development of fracture tough dental materials containing a poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐polydimethylsiloxane‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) triblock copolymer

AbstractPhotocuring 3D printing of materials exhibiting high fracture toughness and excellent mechanical properties (flexural strength/modulus) is challenging. Nowadays, most of the photocurable 3D printing resins are based on a mixture of multifunctional (meth)acrylates and provide therefore brittle materials. This article describes further developments of a toughening strategy based on the incorporation of block copolymers in low crosslink density methacrylate‐based materials. Six dimethacrylates bearing a bisphenol A core and urethane groups are successfully synthesized. Various spacers between the bisphenol A core and the methacrylate groups are selected. Each monomer is combined with (octahydro‐4,7‐methano‐1H‐indenyl)methyl acrylate as a monofunctional monomer and a poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐polydimethylsiloxane‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) triblock copolymer is added as toughener. It is shown that the addition of the triblock copolymer results for all mixtures in a strong increase of the fracture toughness. Moreover, the higher the amount of monofunctional monomer, the stronger the increase. The nature of the urethane dimethacrylate is found to have a significant influence on the fracture toughness, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of cured materials. Two of the synthesized dimethacrylates are identified as promising candidates for the development of fracture‐tough photocuring 3D printing materials.

Strengthening Al0.1CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy via multiaxial cryogenic forging and low temperature annealing

Face-centered cubic (FCC) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) exhibit excellent fracture toughness and fatigue properties at both ambient and cryogenic temperatures. However, the relatively low strength of FCC HEAs at room temperature limits their widespread application. Herein, we present a novel approach to tailoring the microstructure of the Al0.1CoCrFeNi HEA and improving its room temperature tensile strength through multiaxial cryogenic forging (MACF) and low temperature annealing (LTA). After the treatments, the tensile strength increases from 687 MPa for the as-prepared fine-grained HEA to 1487 MPa for the MACF specimens annealed at 673 K for 48 h. Our analysis indicates that the strengthening mechanisms are twofold: the tensile strength increased by about 455 MPa after the MACF treatment, which is due to the synergistic effect of dislocations and nanotwins; after LTA, the tensile strength abnormally increased by about 345 MPa, which can be attributed to stacking faults, hexagonal close-packed, and 9R structures formed by thermal relaxation of nanotwin boundaries.

Effect of Cryogenic Treatments on Hardness, Fracture Toughness, and Wear Properties of Vanadis 6 Tool Steel.

The ability of cryogenic treatment to improve tool steel performance is well established; however, the selection of optimal heat treatment is pivotal for cost reduction and extended tool life. This investigation delves into the influence of distinct cryogenic and tempering treatments on the hardness, fracture toughness, and tribological properties of Vanadis 6 tool steel. Emphasis was given to comprehending wear mechanisms, wear mode identification, volume loss estimation, and detailed characterization of worn surfaces through scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy and confocal microscopy. The findings reveal an 8-9% increase and a 3% decrease in hardness with cryogenic treatment compared to conventional treatment when tempered at 170 °C and 530 °C, respectively. Cryotreated specimens exhibit an average of 15% improved fracture toughness after tempering at 530 °C compared to conventional treatment. Notably, cryogenic treatment at -140 °C emerges as the optimum temperature for enhanced wear performance in both low- and high-temperature tempering scenarios. The identified wear mechanisms range from tribo-oxidative at lower contacting conditions to severe delaminative wear at intense contacting conditions. These results align with microstructural features, emphasizing the optimal combination of reduced retained austenite and the highest carbide population density observed in -140 °C cryogenically treated steel.

An investigation of the impact of functionalized MWCNT reinforcement on interlaminar strength of glass/epoxy composites: a comparative view

ABSTRACT In the present investigation, diverse functionalized states of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were employed in fabricating glass/epoxy composites, with the MWCNT consistently incorporated at a 0.5 wt.% concentration. These functionalization states included pristine, hydroxyl, amine, and carboxylic conditions, systematically compared against neat glass/epoxy composites. The findings elucidated that all three functionalizations positively influenced the enhancement of interlaminar shear strength, mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness, and mode-II interlaminar fracture toughness properties. Notably, the amine-functionalized MWCNT exhibited superior performance relative to other formulations. The composite reinforced with amine MWCNT demonstrated significant improvements in ILSS, mode-I ILFT, and mode-II ILFT by 41.82%, 37.75%, and 40.93%, respectively. These enhancements are attributed to factors such as the presence of a more functional group, the quantity of individual MWCNT, and the introduction of additional damage mechanisms, including MWCNT pullout and bridging.

Influence of Interfacial Interaction and Composition on Fracture Toughness and Impact Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyethersulfone.

In this study, the interlaminar fracture toughness and impact strength of polyethersulfone reinforced with continuous carbon fibers were studied. Interlaminar fracture toughness tests were performed using the double cantilever beam method. It was shown that surface modification using the thermal oxidation method of the carbon fibers can strongly increase the interlaminar fracture toughness of the obtained composites. Thus, the maximum value reached 1.72 kJ/m2, which was 40% higher than the fracture toughness of the composites reinforced with initial carbon fibers. Moreover, fractographic analysis using a scanning electron microscope allowed us to highlight the main reasons for the dependence of fracture toughness on fiber content and surface modification conditions of the carbon fibers. It was shown that the main factor that allowed for an increase in fracture toughness was the enhanced interfacial interaction between the fibers and polymer matrix. Additionally, it was found that expectedly, there was a good correlation between interlaminar fracture toughness and interlaminar shear strength results. However, a negative influence of surface modification on the impact properties of composites was found. Such behavior occurred because of higher structural stability and lower exposure to delamination in multiple layers of the composites reinforced with the modified carbon fibers. It was found that impact energy reached ~150 kJ/m2 for the polyethersulfone-based composites reinforced with initial fibers, while the composites reinforced with modified carbon fibers showed impact energy values of only ~80 kJ/m2. Nevertheless, surface modification of carbon fibers using the thermal oxidation method can be an effective method for improving the performance properties of polyethersulfone-based composite materials.

Quantification of pre-strain effect on ductile fracture and application to irradiation embrittlement problems

This paper proposes a numerical method to predict fracture resistance of pre-strained materials, which is further applied to predict fracture resistance of irradiation-embrittled materials. The proposed method is based on a multi-axial fracture strain damage model using the fracture strain locus and critical damage. The key point is that the pre-strain effect on the critical damage is predicted using the pre-strain effect on plastic strain energy density of tensile data. Application to published experimental data for pre-strained SUS316 and SM490A shows that the predicted fracture toughness results agree well with experimental data. Based on published experimental results that the pre-strain effect on tensile and fracture toughness properties is similar to the irradiation effect, the proposed model is further applied to predict fracture toughness of irradiation-embrittled SUS316 material. Although only numerical simulation results are available, they show that maximum loads for irradiated specimens are higher than those for un-irradiated specimens. Furthermore, the effect of irradiation gradient along the crack growth direction is not so significant.

A study of microstructure and mechanical properties of (CoCrNi)82Al9Ti9 high entropy alloy by electrical-thermal-mechanical coupled rapid post-treatment

In this work, we have creatively used electrical-thermal-mechanical coupled rapid post-treatment to improve the properties of (CoCrNi)82Al9Ti9 high entropy alloy (HEA). The effect of the electrical-thermal-mechanical coupled field on the phase, microstructure, microhardness, fracture toughness, and compression properties of SLM specimens are investigated. The results show that the SLM specimen exhibits face-centered cubic (FCC) and body-centered cubic (BCC) phases and the microstructure is a dendrite structure. The SLM specimens exhibit imperfections, including porosity and cracks, as well as low densification. After electrical-thermal-mechanical coupled rapid post-treatment, the FCC phase decreases while the BCC phase increases in the SLM specimen, and the microstructure changes from dendritic to recrystallized. The created specimens are healed of defects and the densification is increased to 99.6%. It can be attributed to the combination of the electrical (Electron wind) and thermal effects (Joule heat) of pulse current. Electron wind promotes the diffusion of atoms and expansion of the movement of dislocations, providing the material basis for defect healing and recrystallization. Joule heat provides the substance conditions. The (CoCrNi)82Al9Ti9 HEA has a remarkable improvement in strength and ductility.

Aromatic amino acids as latent, bio‐based curing agents and toughening agents for epoxy resins

AbstractIn the realm of bio‐based curing agents, recent investigations have focused on amino acids owing to their distinctive attributes. Nevertheless, the suitability of thermosets cured with aromatic amino acids as latent matrix materials for fiber‐reinforced composites remains to be empirically established. Consequently, this study is oriented toward assessing the mechanical properties of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A when cured with either L‐tryptophan or L‐tyrosine, in the presence of a latent, urea‐based accelerator. The investigated properties include glass transition temperatures, tensile, flexural, compression, and fracture toughness properties. The predominant variations in the mechanical characteristics of these thermosets are confined to their Young's moduli and fracture toughness properties. This divergence is attributed to the greater presence of crystals in the L‐tyrosine‐cured thermoset, resulting in enhanced reinforcement and toughening effects compared to the L‐tryptophan‐cured thermoset.

In-situ-growth of hard-coating, its impact on mechanical performances in cemented-carbides

This study focuses on preparing two types of cemented carbides: one with Ti elements and the other without, using a stepwise sintering process, primarily evaluating their mechanical properties. The research includes a thorough analysis of microstructure changes and post-wear surface alterations, coupled with assessments of phase composition, element content, relative density, surface hardness, fracture toughness, and wear properties. Results reveal that cemented carbides treated with in-situ surface modification under high-temperature nitrogen atmospheres exhibit exceptional densification. An in-situ hard-phases layer, predominantly TiN or Ti(C, N), is gradually grown on the surface of the WC-Co-Mo-TiNC cemented carbides, enhancing surface hardness and fracture toughness. This technology fortifies the material against indentation, crack expansion, and fracture, significantly improving wear resistance and extending service life. In essence, the in-situ surface modification technology, especially under high-temperature nitrogen atmospheres, emerges as a transformative approach, enhancing mechanical properties and substantially improving wear resistance for prolonged practical applications.

Design of aluminum eco-composite for sustainable engineering application by the valorization of municipal wastes: Experimental and response surface analysis

Reprocessing municipal wastes into useful engineering components is one way to reduce their environmental impact. This paper presents a report on an alternative experimental approach to reprocessing common environmental wastes like aluminum scraps, steel shavings, and coconut shells into eco-friendly engineering composite. Equally, response surface analysis was incorporated in the development and validation of predictive models fit for future prediction of response properties. Aluminum scrap was heated into a liquid state and reinforced with recycled steel particles (RSP) and coconut shell ash particles (CSP) at varying proportions. Specimen design involves three group mixes: A, B, and C. Each of the three groups mixes comprised 0, 1, and 2 % RSP at constant dosage, respectively. Meanwhile, each mix was incorporated with 4, 8, and 12 wt % CSP. The microstructural features, physical (porosity, density, and relative density), and mechanical (tensile strength, hardness, elastic modulus, fracture toughness, impact strength, and percentage ductility) properties were appraised. The outcome revealed that the combination of the two reinforcements (RSP and CSP) contributed to microstructural evolution within the specimens. The porosities of the composite specimens were reported to marginally increase with the reinforcement combination. Interestingly, the composite exhibited lighter weight with improved mechanical performance. Mathematical models derived for the response properties were certified fit for future analysis and predictions. Meanwhile, the optimization procedure revealed that the combination of 1.3 % RSP and 6.7 % CSP was suitable for the design of optimal recycled aluminum composites for sustainable engineering designs. The results clarified that the reinforcement particles (RSP and CSP) are low-cost alternatives to synthetic ceramic reinforcements in the aluminum composite."

Preparation, thermophysical properties, and thermal shock resistance of Yb2O3-doped YSZ coatings

The yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings were doped with various concentrations of Yb2O3 to build a multi-component solid solution system. The effects of concentration on the phase composition, microstructure, phase stability at high temperatures, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, fracture toughness, elastic modulus, and other thermophysical properties of the coatings were systematically analyzed. Furthermore, the mechanism through which Yb2O3 doping impacts the thermal shock resistance of YSZ coatings was elucidated. The results reveal that doping with Yb3+, which has a similar radius to Zr4+, allows the YSZ coatings to retain the tetragonal phase structure at low doping concentrations. The Yb2O3 doping can reduce the thermal conductivity of YSZ coatings due to replacement atom and oxygen vacancy defects enhancing phonon scattering and decreasing the mean free path of phonons. The 1YbYSZ coating demonstrates better thermal shock resistance owing to its high CTE and high fracture toughness resulting from its tetragonal phase, high elastic modulus and high grain boundary density. The Yb2O3 doping can form defect clusters and increase the cation diffusion path due to oxygen vacancies, which inhibits the uneven diffusion of Y3+. Therefore, Yb2O3-doped YSZ coatings demonstrate remarkable phase stability at high temperatures of 1700 °C.

Ultrafine‐grained WC‐based ceramics prepared via two‐step oscillatory pressure sintering

AbstractGrain growth in ceramic‐based composites during sintering has always been an unavoidable problem. Based on the theory of fine‐grained reinforcement, the concept of rapid densification was coupled with the inhibition of grain growth to fabricate ultrafine‐grained WC‐based ceramics. Herein, by combining two‐step sintering with oscillatory pressure sintering (OPS), a new sintering process—two‐step oscillatory pressure sintering (TSOPS), was used for the preparation of ultrafine‐grained WC‐based ceramics. The comparison of the OPS with the TSOPS validated the feasibility of the strategy in achieving homogeneous and fine‐grained microstructures. The optimum mechanical properties of Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength reached up to 29.56 GPa, 7.97 MPa m1/2 and 1591 MPa, respectively. A developed TSOPS process was proposed and proved to dominate the grain size distribution homogenizing, which contributed to the simultaneous enhancement of mechanical properties of the ceramics.

Enhanced mechanical properties of multi-scaled carbon reinforcements in ternary epoxy composites materials

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene have widely used as reinforcements in epoxy for various aims and applications since their ‘discovery’. For example, in the area of aviation and aerospace materials, carbon reinforcements are desirable as they offer solutions for light weight yet mechanically enhanced materials. The objective of this work is to investigate the effects of adding combination of carbon fillers of different aspect ratios on the thermal mechanical, Young’s Modulus and Fracture Toughness properties of the resultant epoxy composites. The carbon fillers include carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, and carbon black (CB) and their combined loading will be varied from 0.5 wt. % until 7 wt. % to form sets of binary epoxy composites and a ternary epoxy composites. All of the fillers are kept at the 1:1 weight ratio for CB + CNT, CB + Graphene, CNT + Graphene, and CB + CNT + Graphene. Among these combinations, the system with ternary fillers at 7 wt.% demonstrated the highest value of glass transition temperature (Tg) and KIC, and Young’s Modulus. The percent improvement for glass transition temperature (Tg) and KIC, and Young’s Modulus compared to neat epoxy are 9.5 %, 571%, and 58.3%, respectively. This work clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of employing various carbon fillers with different aspect ratio and morphology in enhancing the values of mechanical properties of epoxy system.

Effects of Fiber Treatment and Humidity on the Mechanical, Fracture Toughness, Dynamic and Thermal Properties of Grewia Optiva Natural Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract The effects of relative humidity, and fiber treatment on the mechanical properties of Grewia Optiva natural fibres reinforced composites were studied. The results revealed that the fiber reinforcement composition with Benzoyl peroxide treatment on NaOH pretreated fiber (BP) shows optimum results at 90% relative humidity. The corresponding experimental results of the tensile strength (MPa), % elongation, flexural strength (MPa), impact strength (kJ/m2), and fracture toughness (MPa vm) were 260.895, 5.230, 52.572, 33.226, and 2.565 respectively. The surface response method yielded the optimum properties with D value as 0.768 and properties variation between 1 to 6%. TGA analysis shows a considerable amount of variation in the rate of degradation after the chemical treatment of fibers. Decrease in the damping factor and increase in glass transition temperature due to chemical treatment shows increased fiber matrix interfacial bonding and cross linking. SEM images show that BP treatment is more suitable than NaOH treatment to remove the undesirable elements from the fiber surface and higher surface roughness to obtain better bonding between fibre and matrix. The fiber diameter reduction due to BP and NaOH treatment is about 57 %, and 52.62 % as compared to untreated fiber.

Microstructure evolution, mechanical response and strengthening models for TA15 titanium alloy during thermal processes: A brief review

TA15 titanium alloy is widely used in aerospace industry in terms of its high specific strength, good thermal stability, and excellent corrosion resistance. To further improve its mechanical properties, thermal deformation combined with heat treatment is always used, during which the microstructure evolution and mechanical response are absolutely complex leading to the difficulty in control of final mechanical properties. Therefore, in-depth research on the relationship between microstructure and mechanical response of TA15 titanium alloy during these processes is of great significance. At present, less relevant review has been reported. In this article, the effects of process parameters such as heating temperature, strain rate, deformation amount, deformation mode, deformation path, cooling method and soaking time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of TA15 alloy, namely tensile performance and damage tolerance properties have been discussed. In addition, some strengthening models suitable for TA15 titanium alloy have been analyzed. In conclusion, different microstructure morphologies formed in various processing processes will display diverse mechanical performances in which the direct relationship between the yield strength and microstructure morphology can be established through distinct calculation models but with some limitations. So, in future works, microstructure and mechanical properties should be optimized further through adjusting processing parameters. Moreover, strengthening models remains to be modified by adopting more accurate statistical methods and considering more factors. Finally, establishing the relationship between damage tolerance properties such as fracture toughness, creep performance and LCF property and microstructure features should be considered more for TA15 alloy.

The fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth properties of 18Ni 300 maraging steel manufactured by wire + arc additive manufacturing

Wire + arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) was used to manufacture the 18Ni 300 maraging steel component. The microstructure, tensile properties, fracture toughness, and fatigue crack growth resistance of the WAAM-ed 18Ni 300 maraging steel were investigated. The bottom regions showed unique microstructure: martensite, tempered martensite, ferrite, granular perlite, and carbide. The formation of tempered martensite in remelting regions would contribute to the following reasons: the cooling impact of the substrate; the partial remelting and long low tempering time. For the non-remelting regions, much ferrite would contribute to the organic mixture of ferrite and (granular) carbides, providing the environment of forming perlite. Meanwhile, numerous Ni3Mo and Ni3Ti IMCs were observed in the martensite matrix. The tensile properties of different regions and directions were different. The fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth resistance of horizontal sample was greater than the vertical sample due to the unique microstructures in the bottom region and weak interlayer combination. The WAAM-ed 18Ni 300 component had a great matching between fracture toughness and yield strength, which is similar to the SLM-ed 18Ni 300, illustrating the WAAM-ed 18Ni 300 components might have a better application potential in the aerospace equipment field.

Fracture toughness determination methods of WC-Co cemented carbide material at micro-scale from micro-bending method using nanoindentation

Determining toughness properties is crucial for the development of components made of brittle materials, especially at the microscale. Numerous methods rely on establishing a limit load that triggers the propagation of a pre-cracked specimen. The primary challenge lies in accurately and repeatably determining this limit load value. In this study, we introduce a coupled numerical-experimental approach to determine the stress intensity factor at the microscale using a micro-bending test on pre-notched cemented carbide micro-cantilevers. Specimens are fabricated through micro-electrical-discharge milling, and the initial crack is generated using a focused ion beam process to ensure a repeatable crack shape. Geometries are defined to validate beam theories.Cycling bending tests, employing nanoindentation with three types of loading (fatigue-like, progressive repeated, and ramping sinusoidal loadings), are utilized to ascertain fracture toughness properties of tungsten carbide material at the microscale. Micro-indentation is also conducted conventionally to compare hardness at meso and micro-scales. Analytical methods and finite element analysis are employed to extract the critical stress intensity factor. The cyclic bending test with the proposed ramping sinusoidal loading demonstrates a time shift between the applied force and the displacement, enabling accurate and repeatable detection of the initiation of crack propagation. The primary contributions are associated with the development of a micro-bending test on precracked microcantilevers with ramping sinusoidal loading applied by a nanoindentor device. The miniaturization of specimens and tests, for an equivalent grain size, does not result in a scale effect on toughness properties.

When Cortical Bone Matrix Properties Are Indiscernible between Elderly Men with and without Type 2 Diabetes, Fracture Resistance Follows Suit.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease affecting bone tissue and leading to increased fracture risk in men and women, independent of bone mineral density (BMD). Thus, bone material quality (i.e., properties that contribute to bone toughness but are not attributed to bone mass or quantity) is suggested to contribute to higher fracture risk in diabetic patients and has been shown to be altered. Fracture toughness properties are assumed to decline with aging and age-related disease, while toughness of human T2DM bone is mostly determined from compression testing of trabecular bone. In this case-control study, we determined fracture resistance in T2DM cortical bone tissue from male individuals in combination with a multiscale approach to assess bone material quality indices. All cortical bone samples stem from male nonosteoporotic individuals and show no significant differences in microstructure in both groups, control and T2DM. Bone material quality analyses reveal that both control and T2DM groups exhibit no significant differences in bone matrix composition assessed with Raman spectroscopy, in BMD distribution determined with quantitative back-scattered electron imaging, and in nanoscale local biomechanical properties assessed via nanoindentation. Finally, notched three-point bending tests revealed that the fracture resistance (measured from the total, elastic, and plastic J-integral) does not significantly differ in T2DM and control group, when both groups exhibit no significant differences in bone microstructure and material quality. This supports recent studies suggesting that not all T2DM patients are affected by a higher fracture risk but that individual risk profiles contribute to fracture susceptibility, which should spur further research on improving bone material quality assessment in vivo and identifying risk factors that increase bone fragility in T2DM. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Laboratory investigation on the fracture toughness (Mode I) and durability properties of eco-friendly cement emulsified asphalt mortar (CRTS II) exposed to acid attack

Cement Emulsified Asphalt Mortar (CEAM) has gained prominence as a vital material for its energy and noise damping properties between the concrete roadbed and track slab in a high-speed railway system. Therefore, it is evident that CEAM properties need to be better understood and optimized. Since cracking caused by traffic loading and atmospheric conditions is one of the primary causes of failure in CEAM, addressing this issue is of great importance. Furthermore, there is a growing need for more environmentally friendly and durable CEAM due to the environmental impact of cement production in the form of greenhouse effect. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of partially replacing cement content in CEAM Type II (CRTS II) specimens with pozzolanic materials such as silica fume, metakaolin, and granite sludge to investigate how these pozzolans affect the fracture toughness (Mode I) performance under both normal (water curing) and sulfuric acid exposure conditions with the main focus on evaluating the pozzolans ability to resist acid attack from a fracture toughness perspective as the research novelty. For this purpose, specimens containing pozzolans at 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % substitution level (by weight of cement) were subjected to Semi-Circular Bending (SCB) test both under normal and exposure to 5 % sulfuric acid solution conditions. Moreover, water absorption test was conducted on specimens in normal condition as a durability index. The test results of this study revealed that substitution of these pozzolanic materials enhanced the fracture toughness in normal condition. Specifically, at a 10 % substitution as the optimal level, silica fume and metakaolin resulted in 18 % and 15 % increase in fracture toughness performance compared to the control specimen in normal condition. However, granite sludge exhibited almost the same performance as the control specimen at 5% substitution as its optimal level. In acid exposure condition, the detrimental effect of acid on the fracture toughness performance of specimens was reduced by 61 %, 55 % and 13 % for samples containing silica fume, metakaolin and granite sludge at 15% substitution level, respectively. Furthermore, water absorption test results showed that inclusion of silica fume and metakaolin at a substitution level of 15 % results in 56 % and 47 % reduction in water absorption compared to the control specimen, respectively, while for granite sludge, it was almost the same as control specimen. These results were also confirmed by SEM studies. Since the use of these pozzolans as cement substitution not only improves the fracture toughness in normal condition but also provides protection against acid-induced degradation, this study contributes to the development of a more durable and environmentally friendly CEAM.