Chapter 9: Ductile Fracture^[1]

Ductile fracture results from the application of an excessive stress to a metal that has the ability to deform permanently, or plastically, prior to fracture. Careful examination and knowledge of the metal, its thermal history, and its hardness are important in determining the correct nature of the fracture features. This chapter is a detailed account of the general characteristics and microstructural aspects of ductile fracture with suitable illustrations. It describes some of the complicating factors extraneous to the fracture itself.