Abstract: Studies were made of the calculation of fractal dimension of transverse impact fracture sur- face,and of the correlation between impact toughness of steel and parameters of free-cutting phase by means of the developed fractal geometry model of crack propagation.It is believed that the area fraction,f,of free-cutting phase is negligibly influential to the longitudinal im- pact toughness,as f1 .While the aspect ratio,saying ratio of length to width,of free-cut. ting phase is inversely influential to the transverse impact toughness.This may .be the reason why the transverse impact toughness of free-cutting steel containing more rare earth contrast to sulphur is even higher than the low sulphur containing steel.

Key words: fractal geometry, impact toughness, free-cutting phase