Methods for Studying the Fracture Surface of Materials Using Modern Microscopy and Digital Image Processing

In this paper, an algorithm for macrofractographic study of materials is proposed on the basis of analysis and sampling of functions and means of measurement of a digital optical microscope. It consists of a consistent implementation of methods developed in this work for studying the fracture surface of materials in a 3D image using digital image processing and using automatic lens recognition and proximity functions. To evaluate the applicability of developed algorithms, dispersion-strengthened composites with an aluminum matrix with different particle sizes and volume fractions fractured under tension were studied. On the basis of results of research, features were established in the mechanisms of fracture and locations of foci and crack nucleation zones during tensile tests depending on the amount content of solid phase in the structure of dispersion-hardened composite materials obtained using internal oxidation technology.