Fractography

Fractography is a technique utilized in materials science and engineering to study the surfaces of fractured materials and comprehend their failure cause and mechanism. Fracture analysis is the process of examining the fractured material surface to determine the primary cause of failure, such as design errors or manufacturing defects, to avoid future occurrences.

The fracture surface is studied in a failure analysis utilizing techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction to reveal the material’s structure, composition, and fracture pattern, indicating whether the fracture was ductile or brittle and the stress concentration areas that caused the failure.

Overall, fractography and failure analysis are crucial tools in improving material behaviour, enhancing their performance, and ensuring their reliability in real-world applications.