The combined methodology of the in-situ 3D crack visualization and the image-based numerical simulation has been demonstrated to be powerful and feasible in revealing and understanding various fracture phenomena inside materials. Using this method, we have recognized that two overlapping crack segments affected significantly the fracture behaviors each other. The regions next to overlapping were also influenced to a relatively large extent through shielding the near-tip stress/strain fields thereby reducing the local crack driving forces.

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