About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Mechanics at the Extremes: Bridging Length-Scales From Nanoscale to Bulk
|
| Presentation Title |
Understanding fracture of brittle materials and interfaces at the nanoscale |
| Author(s) |
Oriol Gavalda Diaz |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Oriol Gavalda Diaz |
| Abstract Scope |
Understanding fracture in brittle materials at the nanoscale remains a major challenge due to the inherently unstable nature of crack propagation. However, crack tips also serve as highly localised regions of extreme stress, providing a unique opportunity to study the atomic- and nanoscale behaviour of brittle materials. In this presentation, I will show recent advancements in in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques developed to investigate crack propagation in brittle and semi-brittle materials, including SiC, ZrO₂, and Si, demonstrating how these methods enable direct observation of nanoscale deformation and fracture processes. Subsequently, I will show how crack tips interact with different types of interfaces—ranging from brittle–brittle to brittle–ductile—shedding light on the nanoscale mechanisms that govern strengthening and toughening at the macroscale. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Ceramics, Characterization, Mechanical Properties |