Fracture Toughness Testing

Fracture toughness testing measures a material’s ability to resist crack growth and prevent sudden failure when a crack is present. It involves creating a controlled crack in a specimen and applying stress until the crack propagates. The test determines a critical value called fracture toughness, indicating how much stress the material can withstand before fracture. This information helps engineers assess the safety, durability, and reliability of materials used in structural components, ensuring they can withstand real-world stresses without catastrophic failure.