Fracture of Multilayers

B. Erdem Alaca, Prof. Huseyin Sehitoglu, Prof. M.T.A. Saif

Nanoscale metallic films on polymeric substrates are subjected to uniaxial and biaxial mechanical loading and resulting fracture patterns are studied. These patterns reveal important information on the mechanical behavior of nanoscale films and their interfaces. Experimental results are combined with newly developed theories to predict properties including fracture toughness. For biaxial studies, a special bulge testing apparatus is developed that can run fatigue tests on suspended membranes.

Surface cracks resulting from biaxial mechanical loading

Edge cracks resulting from uni-axial mechanical loading

Related Publications:

Alaca, BE, Selby, JC, Saif, MTA and Sehitoglu, H, “Biaxial testing of nano-scale films on compliant substrates – fatigue and fracture”, Review of Scientific Instruments, 73(8):2963-2970, 2002
Alaca, BE, Saif, MTA and Sehitoglu, H, “On the interface debond at the edge of a thin film on a thick substrate”, Acta Materialia, 50(5):1197-1209, 2002