Combined macroscopic and microscopic approach to the fracture of metals. Technical progress report, July 1977--June 1978

The work reported includes studies on: (1) The role of particles and interfaces in the initiation of fracture, including fundamentals of brittle versus ductile response of interfaces and observations on cavity growth by the cracking of grain or sub-grain boundaries adjacent to carbides in spheroidized steels; (2) Environment sensitive fracture mechanisms, particularly the effect of hydrogen in reducing tensile ductility by acceleration of the crack-like mode of cavity growth along grain boundaries in steels; (3) Models for elevated temperature diffusive processes of cavity growth on grain interfaces, including non-equilibrium effects and crack-like growth modes; (4) Localization of plastic deformation and the inception of ductile rupture; and (5) Elastic-plastic stress analysis, by finite elements, of growing cracks and examination of criteria for stable crack growth.