Fracture toughness evaluation of thin metal sheets (1-3 mm of thickness), using mechanically notched or fatigue pre-cracked (DENT) specimens, and thick sheets (>3mm of thickness) by bending tests of fatigue pre-cracked (SENB) specimens, following fast and affordable methodologies based on the Essential Work of Fracture (EWF). The EWF is the most suitable fracture parameter to rationalise crack-related problems in high-strenght metal sheets, such as edge fracture or crash behaviour.

Alternative testing approaches to evaluate the plane stress fracture toughness of ductile metal sheets such as J-integral measurements, Kahn-type tear tests or CTOA and δ5 evaluation are also performed. The tests are combined with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to obtain relevant strain data that can be used for fracture modelling.