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Microstructural Aspects of Fracture Mechanics

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Abstract

General analysis of the role of microstructure in a material fracture behavior is presented. It is argued that existence of a characteristic structural lengthscale is implicitly assumed in linear fracture mechanics. Fracture behavior of the material microstructural element controls macroscopic apparent fracture properties. In particular, the greater characteristic size of the microstructural element the greater is the material fracture toughness or effective fracture energy. Data for brittle engineering materials, such as ceramics, are analyzed from this viewpoint. Time-dependent and imperfectly elastic behavior is also discussed.

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  1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Problems in Mechanics, pr. Vernadskogo, 101, 117526, Moscow, Russia e-mail

    Vladimir Entov

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  1. Vladimir Entov
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Entov, V. Microstructural Aspects of Fracture Mechanics. International Journal of Fracture 99, 13–23 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018387007776

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