This volume contains papers selected from the more than 120 contributions presented during the 4th international conference on Materials Structure & Micromechanics of Fracture (MSMF-4), in Brno, Czech Republic, June 23-25, 2004. The MSMF-4 conference successfully carried on the tradition of previous conferences. Nearly 150 scientists from 21 countries presented a variety of multiscale approaches to the modeling and testing of deformation and fracture processes in engineering materials. In collaboration with the International Advisory Board, the organizers also asked Prof. A. J. McEvily (University of Connecticut, USA), Prof. W. Dietzel (GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH, Germany), Prof. G. E. Beltz (University of Santa Barbara, California, USA) and Prof. T. Kitamura (Kyoto University, Japan) to prepare plenary key-note lectures. In addition, other leading scientists were asked to provide key-note lectures for each section. The resultant papers, ordered approximately in a sequence going from atomistic to mezoscopic to macroscopic, are presented in the first section of these proceedings. The contributed papers are similarly ordered in the second section.The main goal of the book was to demonstrate a variety of multiscale approaches, ranging from atomistic to macroscopic levels, and in this it succeeds admirably.

- 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

Based on the Biot conference, named after Maurice Biot and held at Columbia University, this book contains over 170 original papers on different phases of poromechanics in many materials from soils and minerals to human bone. It covers testing and modeling.

Summary: A Generalized Multiscale Analysis Approach brings together comprehensive background information on the multiscale nature of the composite, constituent material behaviour, damage models and key techniques for multiscale modelling, as well as presenting the findings and methods, developed over a lifetime's research, of three leading experts in the field. The unified approach presented in the book for conducting multiscale analysis and design of conventional and smart composite materials is also applicable for structures with complete linear and nonlinear material behavior, with numerous applications provided to illustrate use. Modeling composite behaviour is a key challenge in research and industry; when done efficiently and reliably it can save money, decrease time to market with new innovations and prevent component failure.

The strength of metallic materials determines the usability and reliability of all the machines, tools and equipment around us. Yet, the question about which mechanisms control the strength and damage resistance of materials and how they can be optimised remains largely unanswered. How do real, heterogeneous ma- rials deform and fail? Why can a small modification of the microstructure increase the strength and damage resistance of materials manifold? How can the strength of heterogeneous materials be predicted? The purpose of this book is to present different experimental and computational analysis methods of micromechanics of damage and strength of materials and to demonstrate their applications to various micromechanical problems. This book summarizes at a glance some of the publications of the Computational Mechanics Group at the IMWF/MPA Stuttgart, dealing with atomistic, micro- and meso- chanical modelling and experimental analysis of strength and damage of metallic materials. In chapter 1, the micromechanisms of damage and fracture in different groups of materials are investigated experimentally, using direct observations and inverse analysis. The interaction of microstructural elements with the evolving damage is studied in these experiments. Chapter 2 presents different approaches to the - cromechanical simulation of composite materials: embedded unit cells, multiphase finite elements and multiparticle unit cells. Examples of the application of these models to the analysis of deformation and damage in different materials are given. Chapter 3 deals with the methods of numerical modelling of damage evolution and crack growth in heterogeneous materials.

This cutting-edge book focuses on the emerging area of biomaterials and biodevices that incorporate therapeutic agents, molecular targeting, and diagnostic imaging capabilities The design and development of biomaterials play a significant role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. When used with highly selective and sensitive biomaterials, cutting-edge biodevices can allow the rapid and accurate diagnosis of disease, creating a platform for research and development, especially in the field of treatment for prognosis and detection of diseases in the early stage. This book emphasizes the emerging area of biomaterials and biodevices that incorporate therapeutic agents, molecular targeting, and diagnostic imaging capabilities. The 15 comprehensive chapters written by leading experts cover such topics as: The use of severe plastic deformation technique to enhance the properties of nanostructured metals Descriptions of the different polymers for use in controlled drug release Chitin and chitosan as renewable healthcare biopolymers for biomedical applications Innovated devices such as “label-free biochips” and polymer MEMS Molecular imprinting and nanotechnology Prussian Blue biosensing applications The evaluation of different types of biosensors in terms of their cost effectiveness, selectivity, and sensitivity Stimuli-responsive polypeptide nanocarriers for malignancy therapeutics

Practical Micromechanics of Composite Materials provides an accessible treatment of micromechanical theories for the analysis and design of multi-phased composites. Written with both students and practitioners in mind and coupled with a fully functional MATLAB code to enable the solution of technologically relevant micromechanics problems, the book features an array of illustrative example problems and exercises highlighting key concepts and integrating the MATLAB code. The MATLAB scripts and functions empower readers to enhance and create new functionality tailored to their needs, and the book and code highly complement one another. The book presents classical lamination theory and then proceeds to describe how to obtain effective anisotropic properties of a unidirectional composite (ply) via micromechanics and multiscale analysis. Calculation of local fields via mechanical and thermal strain concentration tensors is presented in a unified way across several micromechanics theories. The importance of these local fields is demonstrated through the determination of consistent Margins of Safety (MoS) and failure envelopes for thermal and mechanical loading. Finally, micromechanics-based multiscale progressive damage is discussed and implemented in the accompanying MATLAB code. - Emphasizes appropriate application of micromechanics theories to composite behavior - Addresses multiple popular micromechanics theories, which are provided in MATLAB - Discusses stresses and strains resulting from realistic thermal and mechanical loading - Includes availability of solution manual for professors using the book in the classroom

Introduction to Fracture Mechanics presents an introduction to the origins, formulation and application of fracture mechanics for the design, safe operation and life prediction in structural materials and components. The book introduces and informs the reader on how fracture mechanics works and how it is so different from other forms of analysis that are used to characterize mechanical properties. Chapters cover foundational topics and the use of linear-elastic fracture mechanics, involving both K-based characterizing parameter and G-based energy approaches, and how to characterize the fracture toughness of materials under plane-strain and non plane-strain conditions using the notion of crack-resistance or R-curves. Other sections cover far more complex nonlinear-elastic fracture mechanics based on the use of the J-integral and the crack-tip opening displacement. These topics largely involve continuum mechanics descriptions of crack initiation, slow crack growth, eventual instability by overload fracture, and subcritical cracking. Presents how, for a given material, a fracture toughness value can be measured on a small laboratory sample and then used directly to predict the failure (by fracture, fatigue, creep, etc.) of a much larger structure in service Covers the rudiments of fracture mechanics from the perspective of the philosophy underlying the few principles and the many assumptions that form the basis of the discipline Provides readers with a "working knowledge" of fracture mechanics, describing its potency for damage-tolerant design, for preventing failures through appropriate life-prediction strategies, and for quantitative failure analysis (fracture diagnostics)

The papers contained herein were presented at the Fourth International Conference on Composite Structures (ICCS/4) held at Paisley College of Technology, Scotland in July 1987. The Conference was organised and sponsored by Paisley College of Technology. It was co-sponsored by the Scottish Development Agency, the National Engineering Laboratory, the US Air Force European Office of Aerospace Research and Development and the US Army Research, Development and Standardisation Group UK. It forms a natural and ongoing progression from the highly successful First, Second and Third International Conferences on Composite Structures (ICCS/l, ICCS/2 and ICCS/3) held at Paisley in 1981, 1983 and 1985 respectively. There is little doubt that composite materials are rightfully claiming a prominent role in structural engineering in the widest sense. Moreover, the range and variety of useful composites has expanded to a level inconceivable a decade ago. However, it is also true that this increasing utilisation has generated an enhanced awareness of the manifold factors which dictate the integrity of composite structures. This is indeed a healthy attitude to a relatively new dimension in structural engineering which will have an increasingly dominant role as the century progresses. Both the diversity of application of composites in structural engineering and the endeavours which will ensure their fitness for purpose are reflected herein.