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Beach marks, also known as clamshell marks or fatigue striations, are characteristic markings on fracture surfaces that indicate the progress of fatigue crack propagation. They appear as concentric rings or lines emanating from the origin of the crack and extend outward. These marks are caused by the repeated cyclic loading and unloading that occurs during fatigue failure. Each cycle of stress causes a small increment of crack growth, leaving behind these distinctive marks. Beach marks are often used by materials engineers to analyze the progression of fatigue failure and understand the conditions under which a material failed.
See
- Fractography