Criteria for elastic fracture

Abstract

Criteria for the growth of a pre-existing crack as generally based on reaching critical values of the stress intensity factors or energy release rate. Starting with the simplest case, that of tensile fracture in an elastic material, criteria for fracture under a range of conditions are explored. These include the initiation and evolution of cracks under mixed-mode loading, considerations of the stability of fracture, effects of temperature, fatigue crack growth and stress corrosion cracking.