Theoretical, experimental and computational mechanics of fracture in constrained interlayers

The constraint of a thin silver interlayer is used to create high triaxial stresses to evaluate the applicability of theoretical models for ductile fracture. Rice and Tracey's model for cavity expansion under high triaxial states of stress and Huanget al.'s model for cavity instability were considered. The experimentally determined _m/_y values suggest that further investigation of the Huanget al. theory is warranted. Microstructural analysis revealed that multiple cavities were initially present in the silver interlayers, and the number and size of the cavities increased as failure was approached. Finite element analysis and experimental results showed excellent agreement in a computational determination of cavity instability. Thus, it appears that ductile fracture in constrained thin interlayers can be explained with unstable cavity growth.