In this book the authors focus on the description of the physical nature of cleavage fracture to offer scientists, engineers and students a comprehensive physical model which vividly describes the cleavage microcracking processes operating on the local (microscopic) scale ahead of a defect. The descriptions of the critical event and the criteria for cleavage fracture will instruct readers in how to control the cleavage processes and optimize microstructure to improve fracture toughness of metallic materials. Physical (mechanical) processes of cleavage fracture operating on the local (microscopic) scale, with the focus on the crack nucleation and crack propagation across the particle/grain and grain/grain boundaries Critical event, i.e., the stage of greatest difficulty in forming the microcrack, which controls the cleavage fracture Criteria triggering the cleavage microcracking with incorporation of the actions of macroscopic loading environment into the physical model Effects of microstructure on the cleavage fracture, including the effects of grain size, second phase particles and boundary Comprehensive description of the brittle fracture emerging in TiAl alloys and TiNi memory alloys

"This book emphasizes the physical and practical aspects of fatigue and fracture. It covers mechanical properties of materials, differences between ductile and brittle fractures, fracture mechanics, the basics of fatigue, structural joints, high temperature failures, wear, environmentally-induced failures, and steps in the failure analysis process."--publishers website.

An account of the recent developments in research into ductile fracture in metals and alloys. Aspects covered include localized fracture at the root of notches and sharp cracks, and fracture in bulk plastic-deformation processes of the metal and metal forming type. Also discusses various theoretical

This comprehensive overview of the whole field of fatigue and fracture of metallic materials covers both the theoretical background and some of the latest experimental techniques. It provides a summary of the complex interactions between material microstructure and cracks, classifying them with respect to the overall damage process with a focus on microstructurally short cracks and dynamic embrittlement. It furthermore introduces new concepts for the numerical treatment of fatigue microcrack propagation and their implementation in fatigue-life prediction models.This comprehensive overview of the whole field of fatigue and fracture of metallic materials covers both the theoretical background and the latest experimental techniques. It provides a summary of the complex interactions between material microstructure and cracks, classifying them with respect to the overall damage process. It furthermore introduces new concepts for the numerical treatment of fatigue microcrack propagation and their implementation in fatigue-life prediction models.