Fracture is a natural reaction of solids to relieve stress and shed excess energy. The fragility of solids is a constant threat to our survival as we drive over a bridge, go through a tunnel, or even inside a building. This book weaves together the essential concepts underlying fracture mechanics.

Theoretical treatments of fracture mechanics abound in the literature. Among the first books to address this vital topic from an applied standpoint was the first edition of Practical Fracture Mechanics in Design. Completely updated and expanded to reflect recent developments in the field, the second edition of this valuable reference concisely revi

Fracture and 'slow' crack growth reflect the response of a material (i.e. its microstructure) to the conjoint actions of mechanical and chemical driving forces and are affected by temperature. There is therefore a need for quantitative understanding and modeling of the influences of chemical and thermal environments and of microstructure, in terms of the key internal and external variables, and for their incorporation into design and probabilistic implications. This text, which the author has used in a fracture mechanics course for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, is based on the work of the author's Lehigh University team whose integrative research combined fracture mechanics, surface and electrochemistry, materials science, and probability and statistics to address a range of fracture safety and durability issues on aluminum, ferrous, nickel, and titanium alloys and ceramics. Examples are included to highlight the approach and applicability of the findings in practical durability and reliability problems.

Emphasizing a balanced approach to design that integrates fracture mechanics, materials science and stress analysis, this work explains the fundamentals of fracture and provides clear definitions, basic formulas and worked examples. Case studies highlight fracture mechanics parameters of particular materials and hands-on stress analysis techniques.

This book fulfills the need for a short, modern, introductory text on linear elastic fracture mechanics and its engineering applications. Suitable for use by engineering undergraduates, and other newcomers to the subject, it:- • Explains the main ideas underlying present day linear elastic fracture mechanics and how these have been developed. • Shows how the ideas can be used to carry out calculations answering the question 'Does this crack matter?' from the viewpoint of an engineering designer. • Provides an understanding of the basis of standard methods and software employed to carry out calculations. • Includes additional, more advanced material, where this will increase understanding of the sometimes formidable mathematics involved, and of the various simplifications and approximations used in practical applications. The author includes all the material central to an undergraduate introductory course and ends each chapter with an overview of the material covered to aid accessibility. Familiarity with the mechanical properties of metallic materials, and with the linear elastic stress analysis of uncracked bodies is assumed.

Fracture: An Advanced Treatise, Volume IV: Engineering Fracture Design presents the development and status of knowledge on sudden, catastrophic failure of structures due to unexpected brittle fracture of component materials. This book provides information pertinent to the engineering fracture design as well as the microscopic and macroscopic fundamentals of fracture. Organized into eight chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the evaluation of fracture tests. This text then presents an analysis of temperature effects on fracture. Other chapters consider the fracture and carrying capacity of long, slender columns and related topics. This book discusses as well the problems in connection with columns, beams, and plates, and experimental evidence to support theories proposed for describing the strength and stiffness of these elements. The final chapter presents an analysis of the problem of brittle fracture in weldments. This book is a valuable resource for engineers, students, and research workers in industrial organizations, education and research institutions, and various government agencies.

New developments in the applications of fracture mechanics to engineering problems have taken place in the last years. Composite materials have extensively been used in engineering problems. Quasi-brittle materials including concrete, cement pastes, rock, soil, etc. all benefit from these developments. Layered materials and especially thin film/substrate systems are becoming important in small volume systems used in micro and nanoelectromechancial systems (MEMS and NEMS). Nanostructured materials are being introduced in our every day life. In all these problems fracture mechanics plays a major role for the prediction of failure and safe design of materials and structures. These new challenges motivated the author to proceed with the second edition of the book. The second edition of the book contains four new chapters in addition to the ten chapters of the first edition. The fourteen chapters of the book cover the basic principles and traditional applications, as well as the latest developments of fracture mechanics as applied to problems of composite materials, thin films, nanoindentation and cementitious materials. Thus the book provides an introductory coverage of the traditional and contemporary applications of fracture mechanics in problems of utmost technological importance. With the addition of the four new chapters the book presents a comprehensive treatment of fracture mechanics. It includes the basic principles and traditional applications as well as the new frontiers of research of fracture mechanics during the last three decades in topics of contemporary importance, like composites, thin films, nanoindentation and cementitious materials. The book contains fifty example problems and more than two hundred unsolved problems. A "Solutions Manual" is available upon request for course instructors from the author.

The First African InterQuadrennial ICF Conference “AIQ-ICF2008” on Damage and Fracture Mechanics – Failure Analysis of Engineering Materials and Structures”, Algiers, Algeria, June 1–5, 2008 is the first in the series of InterQuadrennial Conferences on Fracture to be held in the continent of Africa. During the conference, African researchers have shown that they merit a strong reputation in international circles and continue to make substantial contributions to the field of fracture mechanics. As in most countries, the research effort in Africa is und- taken at the industrial, academic, private sector and governmental levels, and covers the whole spectrum of fracture and fatigue. The AIQ-ICF2008 has brought together researchers and engineers to review and discuss advances in the development of methods and approaches on Damage and Fracture Mechanics. By bringing together the leading international experts in the field, AIQ-ICF promotes technology transfer and provides a forum for industry and researchers of the host nation to present their accomplishments and to develop new ideas at the highest level. International Conferences have an important role to play in the technology transfer process, especially in terms of the relationships to be established between the participants and the informal exchange of ideas that this ICF offers.

- self-contained and well illustrated - complete and comprehensive derivation of mechanical/mathematical results with enphasis on issues of practical importance - combines classical subjects of fracture mechanics with modern topics such as microheterogeneous materials, piezoelectric materials, thin films, damage - mechanically and mathematically clear and complete derivations of results

This Third Edition of the well-received engineering materials book has been completely updated, and now contains over 1,100 citations. Thorough enough to serve as a text, and up-to-date enough to serve as a reference. There is a new chapter on strengthening mechanisms in metals, new sections on composites and on superlattice dislocations, expanded treatment of cast and powder-produced conventional alloys, plastics, quantitative fractography, JIC and KIEAC test procedures, fatigue, and failure analysis. Includes examples and case histories.