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Application of 4Q-BSE detector and dedicated software enables 3D surface measurements of fracture samples in SEM. 3D surface measurement is independent from magnification and material invariant. Quantitative height measurements require careful detector adjustment and system calibration. Live 3D view allows a fast assessment of topographical features. In addition to SE and BSE imaging, 3D surface data help to analyse and interpret fracture samples.
The aim of a fractographic investigation is the evaluation of macroscopic and microscopic fracture surface characteristics and, as a result, the determination of the fracture mechanism of a component from a failure case. The basis for such evaluations of fracture characteristics comes from actual comparative mechanical testing and from the literature. A fractographic analysis can be very complex and, in any case, requires considerable experience.
Machine learning methods enables the quantitative determination of fracture characteristics and fracture mechanisms utilizing digitized expert knowledge [1]. Although the application of SE images provides promising results, additional information is required to obtain reliable solutions. As expected, BSE and 3D information helps to improve the classification (Fig. 1). But only a fast, widely integrated, and automated topography measurement can provide the required amount of referenced surface data for the application of machine learning methods.
To fulfil these requirements, topographical data are obtained from a BSE detector with four symmetric segments (4Q-BSE) using shape-from-shading technology [2]. Surface height calculation is performed live during image acquisition and provides immediate feedback in three dimensions. All available signals (SE, BSE and more if applicable) are recorded simultaneously together with the surface topography and stored in a multichannel data file. This guaranties the same geometrical reference for all data, which is required for further analysis (Fig. 2).
When applying machine learning methods to topographic data together with SEM images, topographic information must be provided as depth image. Consequently, a unique height scale is required for all applied data with different magnifications. This requires a calibrated height measurement, which is ensured with the integrated 3D calibration of the topographic acquisition and a dedicated calibration sample. Thus, a large number of data sets from different fracture samples was generated and used as training data for machine learning.
In failure analysis, micro-fractographic analysis of fracture surfaces is usually performed based on practical knowledge which is gained from available studies, own comparative tests, from the literature, as well as online databases. Based on comparisons with already existing images, fracture mechanisms are determined qualitatively. These images are mostly two-dimensional and obtained by light optical and scanning electron imaging techniques. So far, quantitative assessments have been limited to macrocopically determined percentages of fracture types or to the manual measurement of fatigue striations, for example. Recently, more and more approaches relying on computer algorithms have been taken, with algorithms capable of finding and classifying differently structured fracture characteristics. For the Industrial Collective Research (Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung, IGF) project “iFrakto” presented in this paper, electron-optical images are obtained, from which topographic information is calculated. This topographic information is analyzed together with the conventional 2D images. Analytical algorithms and deep learning are used to analyze and evaluate fracture characteristics and are linked to information from a fractography database. The most important aim is to provide software aiding in the application of fractography for failure analysis. This paper will present some first results of the project.