Quantitative analysis of a fracture surface by atomic force microscopy

Abstract

The fracture surface of a ${\mathrm{Ti}}_3$Al-based alloy is studied using both an atomic force microscope and a standard scanning electron microscope. Results are shown to be quantitatively comparable. Two fracture regimes are observed. It is shown, in particular, that the roughness index characterizing the small length scales regime is equal to 0.5. Furthermore, the large length scales fractal domain is found to spread over five decades of length scales. © 1996 The American Physical Society.