Open Access

Understanding the fracture mechanisms in brazed joints offers opportunities to improve joint design and brazing processes. Traditional ex-situ methods cannot capture the material behavior in real-time, making in-situ observation during mechanical testing, such as in SEM, invaluable. In the present work, in-situ bending tests were used to observe the crack propagation in brazed joints exhibiting both ductile and brittle fracture mechanisms. Samples were prepared with precise geometries and notched to initiate cracks in the joining zone. These in-situ tests provide valuable data on the mechanical behavior of brazed joints, offering insights into their failure processes. Three different joints were analyzed: AISI 304 brazed with AgCu filler metal, Mar M 509 brazed with Co-based filler metal and mixed joints of AA 6082 and AISI 304 brazed with AlGeSi filler metal. In the medium strength joint brazed with Ag 272 filler metal, the fracture occurred by slipping through the eutectic. In the high strength joint brazed with Co 900 filler metal, the crack propagated transgranularly through the intermetallic phases and stopped at the interface between the intermetallic and Co solid solution. The AA 6082 / AISI 304 joint was studied using an overlap geometry, showing that microcracks formed as the bending stress increased, finally leading to a failure at the Al7Fe2Si intermetallic layer, a critical microstructural feature. The used test procedure is suitable for further observations on the fracture mechanism in joints brazed in specific geometries as well as using different brazing process parameters and comparing the results with existing investigations. [Chemische Formeln nicht adäquat darstellbar.]

The purpose of the study is to examine how international cooperation contributes to strengthening Kazakhstan's position as an educational hub. Although global academic partnerships are widely recognized major pillars of higher education modernization, few studies have explored Kazakhstan's strategic positioning and the management mechanisms supporting its internationalization efforts. This study introduces a novel comparative framework analyzing how Kazakhstan’s internationalization strategies differ from regional counterparts and evaluates the governance mechanisms shaping its academic partnerships.The methodology consists of a mixed-method approach, including statistical analysis, comparative assessment of universities rankings, as well as content analysis of academic reports. It uses a pragmatic research framework that combines quantitative and qualitative insights in understanding international cooperation: however, its impact faces challenges, including the limitations of secondary data since they can hardly showcase some of the vital institutional obstacles surrounding global academic collaboration.The novelty lies in the systematic evaluation of management strategies that further international partnerships in higher education in Kazakhstan. In contrast to past studies that largely dealt with the overall consequences of internationalization, this study additionally explores feedback mechanisms and strategic approaches that enable and enhance global engagements for universities.The findings show international partnerships improve the quality of education, curriculum development, influence research output, and attract foreign students and faculty. The study reveals that Kazakhstani universities are expanding their international networks even further despite the bureaucratic barriers and unequal institutional participation in international partnerships.This research contributes to the current discourse on higher education internationalization by means of taking Kazakhstan as a concrete case to demonstrate how targeted management strategies could make national education systems stronger in developing countries. Findings suggest specific practices for universities to enhance competitiveness and ensure sustainable growth in international academic cooperation.