Lattice Deterioration Precursory to Damage Evolution: Complementary Aspect on Fracture ~Overview~

In an extensive flow of studies on material fracture, fracture mechanics has successfully established engineering standards for the safety evaluation of structural components. Vital difficulties in theories have been the management of the crack-tip stress singularity and the existence of incipient crack(s). Plasticity complicates fracture theories, and understanding the microscopic process of fracture is crucial for material design. This paper aims to shed light on the role of plasticity throughout the entire fracture process, remarking mostly brittle-like fracture, both in theory and experiment. Lattice deterioration due to plastic deformation increases potential energy, a key concept in deriving fracture criteria. Studies demonstrating the maturing of strain-induced lattice defects, primarily vacancy clustering, are reviewed to play a crucial role, operating as void source in fracture as a precursor to crack initiation.