Fig. 3.

(a) Examples of typical load vs. loadline displacement curves of the differently oriented fracture specimens (A, B, C) exhibiting large differences in their deformation behaviour. (b) Typical fractograph of a fracture specimen with orientation A (the dotted line represents the transition from pre-fatigued region to overload fracture). (c) Comparison of the crack propagation direction of A and B oriented specimens. In both cases the crack propagates parallel to ED. (d) Typical fractograph of orientation C.