Which brittle fracture morphology is observed on many brittle fractures?

Which brittle fracture morphology is observed on many brittle fractures?

• A. Cleavage
• B. Dimpled rupture
• C. Cup-and-cone
• D. Fibrous tearing

Answer: (A)

Cleavage is the brittle fracture morphology observed on many brittle fractures. In brittle materials, cracks propagate with little to no plastic deformation, sliding along the crystal’s planes of weakness. This gives flat, flat-faceted, mirror-like surfaces on the fracture face, known as cleavage surfaces. The other forms point to ductile behavior: dimpled rupture shows void formation and plastic flow creating dimples, cup-and-cone reveals extensive necking and plastic deformation with a cup on one side and a cone on the other, and fibrous tearing isn’t the typical brittle fracture pattern.

Cleavage is the brittle fracture morphology observed on many brittle fractures. In brittle materials, cracks propagate with little to no plastic deformation, sliding along the crystal’s planes of weakness. This gives flat, flat-faceted, mirror-like surfaces on the fracture face, known as cleavage surfaces. The other forms point to ductile behavior: dimpled rupture shows void formation and plastic flow creating dimples, cup-and-cone reveals extensive necking and plastic deformation with a cup on one side and a cone on the other, and fibrous tearing isn’t the typical brittle fracture pattern.