Abstract
A physical model of fracture in materials is developed which features a brittle crack imbedded in a plastically deformed medium. This model is presented as an alternative to fully ductile failure by hole growth, and general criteria for the two alternatives are discussed. One of these criteria for the existence of an atomically sharp crack is that the dislocation content near the crack tip be limited by the inhomogeneous character of dislocation slip in the crystal. With the dislocation distribution characteristic of Mode III fracture, we derive expressions for the fracture toughness as a function of material parameters. We have extended the theory to the case of hydrogen embrittlement in steels and compare our theoretical predictions with experimental work by others.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
G. Hahn, M. Kanninen, andA. Rosenfeld, Ann. Rev. Mater. Sci.2 (1970) 381.
B. Lawn andT. Willshire, “Fracture of Brittle Solids” (Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge, 1975).
J. Rice andR. Thomson,Phil. Mag. 29 (2974) 73.
M. Kanninen andM. Gehlen,Int. J. Fract. Mech. 7 (1971) 471.
J. D. Embury, “Strengthening by Dislocation Substructures” in “Strengthening Methods in Crystals”, edited by A. Kelly and R. Nicholson (Wiley, New York, 1971).
E. Hart, unpublished internal GE Research Report.
R. Oriani andP. Josephic,Acta Met. 22 (1974) 1065.
See papers by W. Gerberich, J. Tien, and others, (Met. Soc. AIME, New York, 1976).
J. Rice,J. Appl. Mech. 34 (1967) 287.
R. DeWit, “Solid State Physics”, Vol. 10, edited by F. Seitz and D. Turnbull, (Academic Press, New York, 1960) p.249.
J. Goodier, in “Fracture”, Vol. II, edited by H. Liebowitz (Academic Press, New York, 1968) p.1.
S. Burns,Acta Met. 18 (1970) 969.
N. Petch,Phil. Mag. 1 (1956) 331.
H. Adamson, “Physical Chemistry of Surfaces”, (Interscience, 1967).
W. Gerberich, J. Garry, andJ. Lessar, “Effect of Hydrogen on Behavior of Materials” (Met. Soc. AIME, New York, 1976).
J. Rice, “Effect of Hydrogen on Behavior of Materials”, edited by A. Thompson and I. Bernstein, (Met. Soc. AIME, New York, 1976) p.455.
W. Gerberich andY. Chen,Met. Trans. 6A (1975) 271.
H. Johnson, “Effect of Hydrogen on Behavior of Materials” (Met. Soc. AIME, New York, 1976).
H. Heumann andPrimas,Z. fur Naturforshung 21a (1966) 260.
C. Hsieh andR. Thomson,J. Appl. Phys. 44 (1973) 2051.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thomson, R. Brittle fracture in a ductile material with application to hydrogen embrittlement. J Mater Sci 13, 128–142 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00739283
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00739283