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.

This textbook provides a comprehensive guide to fracture mechanics and its applications, providing an in-depth discussion of linear elastic fracture mechanics and a brief introduction to nonlinear fracture mechanics. It is an essential companion to the study of several disciplines such as aerospace, biomedical, civil, materials and mechanical engineering. This interdisciplinary textbook is also useful for professionals in several industries dealing with design and manufacturing of engineering materials and structures. Beginning with four foundational chapters, discussing the theory in depth, the book also presents specific aspects of how fracture mechanics is used to address fatigue crack growth, environment assisted cracking, and creep and creep-fatigue crack growth. Other topics include mixed-mode fracture and materials testing and selection for damage tolerant design, alongside in-depth discussions of ensuring structural integrity of components through real-world examples. There is a strong focus throughout the book on the practical applications of fracture mechanics. It provides a clear description of the theoretical aspects of fracture mechanics and also its limitations. Appendices provide additional background to ensure a comprehensive understanding and every chapter includes solved example problems and unsolved end of chapter problems. Additional instructor support materials are also available.

This book is based on 40 years of research and teaching in the fields of fracture mechanics and plasticity. It will bring students and engineers from various disciplines up to date on key concepts that have become increasingly important in the design of safety-relevant engineering structures in general and in modern lightweight structures in the transportation industry in particular. Primarily intended for graduate students in the engineering sciences and practicing structural engineers, it employs a multidisciplinary approach that comprises theoretical concepts, numerical methods, and experimental techniques. In addition, it includes a wealth of analytical and numerical examples, used to illustrate the applications of the concepts discussed.

Modern fracture mechanics considers phenomena at many levels, macro and micro; it is therefore inextricably linked to methods of theoretical and mathematical physics. This book introduces these sophisticated methods in a straightforward manner. The methods are applied to several important phenomena of solid state physics which impinge on fracture mechanics: adhesion, defect nucleation and growth, dislocation emission, sintering, the electron beam effect and fractal cracks. The book shows how the mathematical models for such processes may be set up, and how the equations so formulated may be solved and interpreted. The many open problems which are encountered will provide topics for MSc and PhD theses in fracture mechanics, and in theoretical and experimental physics. As a supplementary text, the book can be used in graduate level courses on fracture mechanics, solid matter physics, and mechanics of solids, or in a special course on the application of fracture mechanics methods in solid matter physics.

This collection gives broad and up-to-date results in the research and development of materials characterization and processing. Topics covered include advanced characterization methods, minerals, mechanical properties, coatings, polymers and composites, corrosion, welding, magnetic materials, and electronic materials. The book explores scientific processes to characterize materials using modern technologies, and focuses on the interrelationships and interdependence among processing, structure, properties, and performance of materials.