Combined macroscopic and microscopic approach to the fracture of metals. Technical progress report, July 1976--June 1977

The work includes the completion of a comprehensive study of the contributions of dislocation substructures and local stresses at particle interfaces to the strain hardening of dispersion hardened steels, and the presentation of a model of segregant induced embrittlement of grain interfaces. Work was continued on crack initiation at inclusions and on the theory of plastic flow localization. These microscopic effects are discussed in relation to the mechanisms of brittle fracture and ductile rupture of metals and alloys. On a more macroscopic scale, the state of stress and strain associated with the large plastic deformation at a crack tip was further defined based on finite element and slip line calculations, and some preliminary results were obtained by finite element methods for stable crack growth under plane strain conditions. A new finite element method has been developed for fully plastic flow under plane strain conditions.