Summary
Brittle fracture is a rapid fracture that occurs with little or no plastic deformation. Generally, construction materials are ductile and undergo large deformation and/or some form of stable crack growth prior to failure. However, these materials may be exposed to service conditions that cause them to become brittle. When in a brittle condition, these materials can fracture in a sudden (without warning), unstable and often catastrophic manner with little or no deformation. Brittle fracture requires little energy and often results in fragmentation.