Rupture fragile et rupture ductile

Abstract

The purpose of Fracture Mechanics is to predict and prevent the initiation and propagation of cracks in solid materials. It splits into two sub-disciplines. Mechanics of Brittle Fracture and Mechanics of Ductile Fracture, the basic origin of the difference lying in the different physical mechanisms governing fracture. One expounds here the foundations of each of them and evokes some present problems which arise in their context.