Self-affine properties of fracture surfaces

A statistical topography of fracture surfaces is discussed. Theoretical models of fracture surfaces and experimental methods of fractal measurements are analyzed. The theoretical ideas which allow to understand the strong contradictions between results obtained by different authors in studies of fracture surfaces morphology are presented. Suggested theoretical concepts are discussed with respect to experimental observations reported in the literature. A fractal analysis of brittle fracture surfaces in steel type 1045, fractured at different temperatures, is reported.