Fracture of a ductile layer constrained by stiff substrates

A combined experimental and theoretical analysis of the fracture behaviour of brass/solder/brass sandwich specimens is conducted. First, the theories of interfacial fracture initiation for a ductile layer sandwiched between e lastic substrates are reviewed. The fracture behaviours are then reported o f brass/solder/brass sandwich specimens under various mode mixities. Additi onally, the effects of solder layer thickness b and specimen lateral thickn ess t are presented. The effects of mode mix and plastic constraint on the failure mechanism and toughness are analysed.