Science of Failure

Roughly, the outline is as follows (# of lecture hours between brackets):

• Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics: stress intensity factor, crack-tip plasticity, energy release rate (4)

• Elastic Plastic Fracture Mechanics: crack tip opening displacement, J integral (4)

• Failure: ductile and brittle fracture, ductile-to-brittle transition curve, failure assessment diagram (6)

• Fatigue: crack growth and crack initiation (4)

• Environment-assisted cracking: mechanisms and testing (2)

• Instructions: exercises in class (6)

This totals 26 hours.

Written examination during which the book Fracture Mechanics and the hand-outs provided may be consulted. Other forms of information, such as worked-out problems, are not allowed!