Spacecraft sustained load fracture control

The opportunities for sustained load fracture control in spacecraft are indicated. Emphasis is given to verification by small-scale laboratory testing.

Comparison of fracture toughness in titanium alloys IMI 550 and IMI 551

Fracture toughness tests on two high strength titanium alloys, IMI 550 and 551, showed that the higher strength alloy, IMI 551, had a much lower toughness. The alloys were very similar in microstructure and fracture mechanisms. A number of model formulations for predicting fracture toughness were compared with the experimental results. This...