Effects of Nanostructure on Dynamic Fracture Mechanisms

Dynamic fracture is an important physical process that underpins the use of materials in many real-world applications (i.e. crack propagation and failure, before information is communicated through the complete system). However, the effect of material nanostructure (both lattice and grain structure) on such events is not well understood; for example how inter-grain boundary strength and lattice anisotropy influence crack propagation and growth under tension.
The aim of this project is to identify and study correlations between material microstructure and dynamic fracture response at high strain rates. In particular, it will likely include comparing polycrystalline metals with amorphous glasses. The project will involve careful experiments using a recently developed high-rate loading technique, supported by a range of diagnostic instrumentation (although we expect to develop a range of similar, complimentary tests at lower rates). The project is part of a longstanding industrial collaboration, and will be performed in close co-operation with related numerical modelling efforts.