Quantitative Analysis of Facet Sizes of Cleavage Failures in Charpy Impact Tests Using a Computer Image Processing Technique

Abstract

Personal-computer-based software which enables us to quantitatively analyze the facet size of cleavage failures in Charpy impact tests by reconstucting the three-dimensional shapes of fracture surfaces was developed. This specially developed software was based on a computer image processing and pattern recognition technique consisting of two parts: one to reconstruct the three-dimensional fracture surface topography from a stereo pair of scanning electron micrographs, and the other to determine facet boundaries from the topography. By using this software, it became possible to measure the facet sizes quickly and with sufficient precision.