Fracture resistance of aluminum multilayer composites

- The material inhomogeneity is especially effective in crack arrester configuration.
- Crack arrest is caused by the material inhomogeneity effect and not by delamination.
- After crack arrest, the crack growth resistance increases tremendously.
- Failure occurs when the tensile strength of the unbroken ligament is reached.
- Analytical models are deduced to explain the experimental findings.