An introduction to fracture mechanics for engineers

Abstract

This article is the first in a three-part series discussing the significance of fracture toughness for design engineers. In this first part the basics of the fracture toughness approach are explained and some limitations of the approach discussed. In the second article to be published in the next issue experimental measurement and applications will be discussed. The concluding article will discuss the need for elastic/plastic fracture criteria, size limitations and summarize the present state of the art.