Advanced SEM methods in fatigue and fracture research

A comparative analysis of advanced results in the quantitative micra fractography is performed. Fatigue crack propagation micro-mechanisms are discussed with respect to the fatigue striation spacing and features as well as to the retrospective of the FCP process. The correlation between statistics of local cleavage crack growth directions and main crack propagation direction provides an evidence of both the "coalescence" fracture mechanism and local approach to fracture acceptance. Stretched zone formation at crack initiation and its relation to fracture toughness of material is described. Intercrystalline rupture fractography is characterized with respect to the fatigue and stress corrosion cracking. Applications of fractography are given.