An Investigation of the Mode of Failure of Copper Beryllium Alloy Specimens in Stress Corrosion Fracture

Abstract

Abstract The mode of crack propagation was investigated in specimens of a copper-beryllium alloy which had failed by stress corrosion. The investigation was done by comparing the amount of plastic deformation on the side face and on the fractured face of the specimen. The amount of plastic deformation was measured by X-ray diffraction. Results indicate that an appreciable amount of plastic deformation occurred on the fractured face during the process of fracture. The presence of additional plastic deformation at the fracture face suggests that the specimen failed by the semi-brittle propagation of a crack.