The fracture characteristics of an Al2O3/Al composite are examined. Me
asurements of resistance curves and work of rupture are compared with
predictions of a micromechanical model, incorporating the effects of c
rack bridging by the Al reinforcements. The bridging traction law is a
ssumed to follow linear softening behavior, characterized by a peak st
ress, sigma(c), and a critical stretch-to-failure, u(c). The values of
simga(c) and u(c) inferred from such comparisons are found to be broa
dly consistent with independent measurements of stretch-to-failure, al
ong with the measured flow characteristics of the Al reinforcement. Th
e importance of large-scale bridging on the fracture resistance behavi
or of this class of composite is also demonstrated through both the ex
periments and the simulations.