Page 9 - T. Anderson-Fracture Mechanics - Fundamentals and Applns.-CRC (2005)

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Preface

The field of fracture mechanics was virtually nonexistent prior to World War II, but has since
matured into an established discipline. Most universities with an engineering program offer at least
one fracture mechanics course on the graduate level, and an increasing number of undergraduates
have been exposed to this subject. Applications of fracture mechanics in industry are relatively
common, as knowledge that was once confined to a few specialists is becoming more widespread.
While there are a number of books on fracture mechanics, most are geared to a specific audience.
Some treatments of this subject emphasize material testing, while others concentrate on detailed
mathematical derivations. A few books address the microscopic aspects of fracture, but most consider
only continuum models. Many books are restricted to a particular material system, such as metals or
polymers. Current offerings include advanced, highly specialized books, as well as introductory texts.
While the former are valuable to researchers in this field, they are unsuitable for students with no
prior background. On the other hand, introductory treatments of the subject are sometimes simplistic
and misleading.
This book provides a comprehensive treatment of fracture mechanics that should appeal to a
relatively wide audience. Theoretical background and practical applications are both covered in detail.
This book is suitable as a graduate text, as well as a reference for engineers and researchers. Selected
portions of this book would also be appropriate for an undergraduate course in fracture mechanics.
This is the third edition of this text. The first two editions were published in 1991 and 1995.
Although the overwhelming response to the earlier editions was positive, I have received a few
constructive criticisms from several colleagues whose opinions I respect. I have tried to incorporate
their comments in this revision, and I hope the final product meets with the approval of readers who
are acquainted with the first or second edition, as well as those who are seeing this text for the first time.
Many sections have been revised and expanded in this latest edition. In a few cases, material from
the second edition was dropped because it had become obsolete or did not fit within the context of
the revised material. Chapter 2, which covers linear elastic fracture, includes a new section on crack
interaction. In addition, a new section on so-called plane strain fracture has been added to Chapter 2
in an attempt to debunk certain myths that have arisen over the years. Chapter 7 and Chapter 8 have
been updated to account for recent developments in fracture toughness testing standards. Chapter 9
on application to structures has been completely reorganized and updated. In Chapter 10, the coverage
of fatigue crack closure, the fatigue threshold, and variable amplitude effects has been expanded and
updated. Perhaps the most noticeable change in the third edition is a completely new chapter on
environmental cracking (Chapter 11). The chapter on computational fracture mechanics, which was
formerly Chapter 11, is now Chapter 12. A number of problems have been added to Chapter 13, and
several problems from the second edition have been modified or deleted.
The basic organization and underlying philosophy are unchanged in the third edition. The book
is intended to be readable without being superficial. The fundamental concepts are first described
qualitatively, with a minimum of higher level mathematics. This enables a student with a reasonable
grasp of undergraduate calculus to gain physical insight into the subject. For the more advanced
reader, appendices at the end of certain chapters give the detailed mathematical background.
In outlining the basic principles and applications of fracture mechanics, I have attempted to
integrate materials science and solid mechanics to a much greater extent compared to those in other
fracture mechanics texts. Although continuum theory has proved to be a very powerful tool in fracture
mechanics, one cannot ignore microstructural aspects. Continuum theory can predict the stresses
and strains near a crack tip, but it is the material’s microstructure that determines the critical
conditions for fracture.