Brittle fracture and ductile failure are critical events for any structural or functional component, as it marks the end of lifetime and potential hazard to human life. As such, materials scientists continuously strive to better understand and subsequently avoid these events in modern materials. A century after the seminal initial contribution by Griffith, fracture mechanics has come a long way and is still experiencing vivid progress. Building on classical fracture testing standards, advanced in situ fracture experiments allow local quantitative probing of fracture processes on different length scales, while microscopic analysis grants access to chemical and structural information along fracture paths in previously unseen detail. This article will provide an overview of how these modern developments enhance our understanding of local fracture processes and highlight future trends toward designing strong yet ductile and damage-tolerant materials.
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