Technical Papers and Notes - Institute of Metals Division - A Method for Observing the Progress of Deformation in Tensile Samples

HE relationship between microstructure and *- fracture is of interest in many metals and alloys. This relationship is sometimes established by examining the fracture surfaces and the flat surfaces near the fracture path in tensile samples. However, it is often difficult to tell from examining the fractured sample whether the fracture is intergranular, intra-granular, or a mixture of both. Also, it is often of interest to follow the progress of slip, twinning, or crack formation along the fracture path before fracture occurs. The ambiguity concerning the type of fracture generally can be resolved if the area along the path of ultimate fracture can be photographed at inter-