The Application of Stress Wave Emission to Crack Propagation in Metals – A Crack Propagation Model

A model for the behaviour of crack movement in metals using a stress wave emission technique is described.

Stress wave emission is a phenomenon arising from the release of strain energy as a solid material undergoes plastic deformation or fracture. The work carried out at The City University has been concerned with the development of a crack propagation model (using a stress wave emission technique) which would enable the analysis of random signals produced during crack propagation in metals. The technique developed is capable of characterising regions at all stages of crack growth, and has been verified experimentally using data collected from tests on fracture toughness specimens.