Model experiments to mimic fracture surface features in metallic glasses

The vein-like fracture surface features which occur in metallic glasses have been modeled via experiments in which a thin layer of grease is tested in tension. The effects of layer thickness, substrate shape, viscosity of the grease layer, and stress state on the fracture surface features are investigated. The trend discovered in the relationship between the viscosity of the viscous layer and the fracture surface feature size in the model experiments is consistent with what is found in metallic glasses.