The Relationship between Fractography and Metallography

The relationship between features detected on a fracture surface are strongly influenced by the microstructure of the component. This is a concept that is well understood by practicing metallurgical failure analysis professionals. This concept is not as well understood by the lay person, or engineers who are not practicing metallurgical failure analysis professionals. A new edition of the American Society of Materials (ASM) Volume 12 Handbook on Fractography is currently being written after 33 years. Although prior editions have touched on the relationship between fractography and metallography, it was not well emphasized. As the volume editor for the new edition, I want to emphasize this relationship in more detail. This presentation will provide examples of where the nature of the failure cannot be well understood through fractography alone, but where metallography provide an essential part of the interpretation of the features detected on the fracture surface.