Survey of quantitative reverse deduction from fatigue fracture surface of metals

The status of the study on quantitative reverse deduction from fatigue fracture surface in the past several decades is over-viewed. The definition and importance of quantitative reverse deduction from fatigue fracture surface is presented firstly. Then, the common methods and techniques of macroscopic and microscopic quantitative reverse deduction from fatigue fracture surface are introduced. The former involves quantitative reverse deduction from source region, propagation region and final fracture region of fatigue fracture surface. The latter includes quantitative reverse deduction based on fatigue striations and other characteristic parameters such as the spatial distribution of significant fractographic features, roughness of fracture surface, micro-plastic deformation and residual stress of fracture surface (or sub-surface), and so on. And the trends of this field are put forward.