An experimental study of the fracture resistance of bimaterial interfaces

Abstract The fracture resistance of a model bimaterial interface has been measured for a wide range of phase angles: the measure of the relative crack face sliding and opening displacement near the crack tip. These experiments have revealed that the critical strain energy release rate increases with increase in phase angle, especially when the crack opening becomes small. The results are consistent with a model based on crack surface contact associated with non-planarity of the fracture interface.