frangible

Frangible is an adjective used to describe materials or devices that are designed to fracture or disintegrate into small pieces under stress. The term emphasizes controlled breakage rather than unpredictable shattering, and it is applied across engineering, safety, and defense contexts. Frangible materials are engineered to fragment in predefined ways when subjected to impact, pressure, or other loads, to minimize collateral damage or injury and to absorb energy.

The word derives from the Latin frangere, meaning to break, and entered English in the 17th century. It is related to fragile and fragment, both of which reflect a tendency to break apart.

Applications: In ammunition, frangible projectiles are designed to break into small, non-ricocheting fragments on impact, reducing the risk to bystanders and structures. They are used in training weapons, limited-penetration scenarios, and settings where reducing collateral damage is important. In safety and structural contexts, frangible components such as fasteners, connectors, or barriers are designed to fail in a controlled manner under overload. This can help protect equipment or personnel by preventing larger, uncontrolled failures and by absorbing energy.

Materials and design: Frangible materials may include ceramic composites, metal alloys with engineered flaws, polymers, or bonded powders. Their fragmentation patterns are selected to limit sharp, dangerous shards and to create predictable debris. Design considerations include target material, anticipated impact energy, environmental conditions, and cost.