Intersonic Crack Propagation in Bimaterial Systems

This paper describes experimental observations of various phenomena characteristic of dynamic intersonic decohesion of bimaterial interfaces[ Two separate but complementary optical methods are used in con! junction with high!speed photography to explore the nature of the large!scale contact and mach wave formation at the vicinity of running cracks in two di}erent bimaterial systems[ Theoretical predictions of crack tip speed regimes\ where large!scale contact is implied\ are con_rmed[ Also\ the theoretically predicted mach wave emanating from the intersonically propagating crack tip is observed[ Direct visual evidence is also obtained for another traveling mach wave emanating from the end of the intersonically moving contact zone[ Subsequently\ a physical model for intersonic crack propagation along bimaterial interfaces is presented and rati_ed in view of recent experimental observations and theoretical developments[ Finally\ the paper presents very recent experimental evidence that shows crack tip speeds exceeding the intersonic regime and becoming clearly supersonic[ Þ 0887 Elsevier Science Ltd[ All rights reserved[