- 2081 Kartik (new course) · 1 mark
Ductile versus brittle failure
Short answer
Ductile failure involves large plastic deformation, visible necking, and high energy absorption, providing warning. Brittle failure is sudden with minimal deformation, no warning, and low energy absorption, producing a flat fracture surface.
What is the major difference between ductile and brittle failure of materials?
A ductile failure occurs after large plastic deformation and necking, so it gives visible warning and absorbs a lot of energy. A brittle failure occurs suddenly with very little plastic deformation and no warning.
| Basis | Ductile failure | Brittle failure |
|---|---|---|
| Deformation | Large plastic strain | Very small strain |
| Warning | Visible necking | Sudden, none |
| Energy absorbed | High | Low |
| Fracture surface | Rough, cup-and-cone | Flat, shiny |
| Example | Mild steel | Cast iron, glass |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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