Crack Paths 2006

Figure 8. Crack phase diagram of particle-reinforced metal matrix composites, from

[11].

The pre-cease short crack phase (PCS)

This regime is bound between the fatigue limit stress,flV, and an applied stress of

K/

V

where

mt K is a local material stress concentration factor

fl

mt

(10)

appl V V ' / ' loc

m t K

where l o c V ' is a local stress range averaged over a representative volume. With the

represents a

V

increased crack length the influence of local stress decreases, and

/ K

fl

mt

local stress equal to the fatigue limit of the bulk material.