Microstructural Parameters in the Theory of Critical Distances

The work described below investigates, for the first time, the link between microstructural parameters such as grain size and the length constant L which is known as the critical distance. L is frequently used in the prediction of failure processes such as brittle fracture and fatigue, initiated at stress concentration features such as notches. Values of L were calculated using data from the literature on the effect of short cracks and notches in steels and ceramics. In some cases, simple relationships could be established between L and the grain size, or other microstructural features. Sometimes L was found to be much larger than anything in the microstructure and appeared to be related to the size of the damage zone at failure.