The quantitative characterization of fracture surface geometry, that is, quantitative fractography, can provide useful information regarding the microstructural features and failure mechanisms that govern material fracture. This article is devoted to the fractographic techniques that are based on fracture profilometry. This is followed by a section describing the methods based on scanning electron microscope fractography. The article also addresses procedures for three-dimensional fracture surface reconstruction. In each case, sufficient methodological details, governing equations, and practical examples are provided.

This article describes the fatigue properties of particle-reinforced metal-matrix composites (PR-MMCs) in terms of mechanisms of crack initiation, fatigue life, and fatigue crack growth. It reviews specimen preparation and microscopic procedures that are used in fatigue testing of MMCs. It also describes the evaluation of the long fatigue crack growth behavior of MMCs by using the test methods and specimens that are used for unreinforced metallic alloys. Fractography of MMCs under plane-strain conditions is also described with information on the observed features of MMC fatigue fracture surfaces and their observation methods.

Failure analysis is a process of acquiring specified information regarding the appropriateness of the design of a part, the competence with which the various steps of its manufacture have been performed, any abuse suffered by it in packing and transportation, or the severity of service under which failure has occurred. Beginning with a discussion of the various stages of failure analysis of glass and ceramic materials, this article focuses on descriptive and quantitative fracture surface analysis techniques that are used in the examination of glass and surfaces created by fracture and the interpretation of the fracture markings seen on these surfaces. Details are provided for the procedures for locating fracture origins, determining direction of crack propagation, learning the sequence of crack propagation, deducing the stress state at the time of fracture, and observing interactions between crack fronts and inclusions, etc. A separate fractography terminology is provided in this article.

The purpose of fractography is to analyze fracture features and attempt to relate the topography of the fracture surface to the causes and/or basic mechanisms of fracture. This article reviews the historical development of fractography, from the early studies of fracture appearance dating back to the sixteenth century to the state-of-the-art work in electron fractography and quantitative fractography. It also describes the applications and limitations of scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope.

This article discusses the fractal characteristics of fracture surfaces as a means for describing and quantifying irregular, complex curves and surfaces of fractured materials. It describes the important relationship between the profile and surface roughness parameters that yield the surface area of irregular fracture surfaces. The article reviews the experimental procedures required to obtain profiles and measurements that are made. In addition, fractal equations that linearize all the experimental data and provide constant fractal dimensions are presented in the article. Modified fractal dimensions that result from these analyses appear to possess some generality for natural irregular nonplanar surfaces and their profiles.

The principal objective of quantitative fractography is to express the characteristics of features in the fracture surface in quantitative terms, such as the true area, length, size, spacing, orientation, and location. This article provides a detailed account of the development of more quantitative geometrical methods for characterizing nonplanar fracture surfaces. Prominent techniques for studying fracture surfaces are based on the projected images, stereoscopic viewing, and sectioning. The article provides information on various roughness and materials-related parameters for profiles and surfaces. The applications of quantitative fractography for striation spacings, precision matching, and crack path tortuosity are also discussed.