Which mechanism caused cast iron cannons of the 18th century to occasionally burst catastrophically during firing?

💡 Explanation

When cannons were fired, rapid crack propagation occurred due to pre-existing micro-flaws within the cast iron subjected to intense pressure and stress concentration, causing the cannon to shatter. Therefore crack propagation results, rather than thermal yield, gas leakage, or trunnion failure, which require different material properties or constraints.

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