This report is a three part study of indentation fracture in the plastic contact regime. The first part summarizes the observations of fracture and develops a fracture classification scheme. The second part discusses the implications of the fracture characterization for fracture toughness determinations, and abrasive wear and low velocity erosion prediction. Finally, the third part discusses indentation friction and its measurements, as needed to determine the role of friction in the indentation fracture process. (Author).

Several basic aspects concerning the effects of grain boundaries in niobium bicrystals were explored. The investigation led to the following findings: (1) A new method of growing oriented niobium bicrystals (the Y shaped seed technique) was developed. Large cylindrical bicrystals, 0.63 cm in diameter and over 10 cm in length, have been grown from the melt using this method. (2) Niobium bicrystals exhibit excess hardening at the grain boundary, as shown by microhardness measurements. The degree of boundary hardening increased as the angle of misorientation increases. In addition, hardening is greater in bicrystals with tilt boundaries than with twist boundaries. (3) In tensile deformation of niobium bicrystals, Stage I hardening is absent. In Stage II, extra slip traces are activated from the boundary. In some cases, the primary slip system of the bicrystal differs from that of the single crystal of similar orientation. (4) In conjunction with the experimental program, a refined analysis was made to examine the dislocation-boundary interaction. It was found that in non-symmetrical bicrystals an edge dislocation wall has a long-range stress field which contrasts with the classical result in a single crystal. (Author).

Comprehensive in scope and readable, this book explores the methods used by engineers to analyze and predict the mechanical behavior of materials. Author Norman E. Dowling provides thorough coverage of materials testing and practical methods for forecasting the strength and life of mechanical parts and structural members.