SOME BASIC PROBLEMS IN FRACTURE MECHANICS AND NEW CONCEPTS

Although fracture mechanics has gained a sufficient amount of recognition in the past, it is not always clear how the laboratory measurements on fracture toughness or crack growth rate help engineers to design a safe structure. One is hopeful that the current theory can be generalized and extended to explain the various fracture phenomena. However, should it be discovered that the theory was developed on false premises and that the theory and experiment just happen to agree reasonably well, then, guided by the basic laws of physics, we must reconstruct our model. There is no doubt that new concepts are needed to explain many of the presently misunderstood fracture phenomena which are observed on the microscopic level as well as the macroscopic. Without fundamental new ideas, fracture mechanics will remain only a laboratory tool.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Invited paper-presented at the Symposium on "Fracture and Fatigue", George Washington University, Washington, D.C., May 3-5, 1972.
• Corporate Authors:

  Lehigh University

  Institute of Fracture and Solid Mechanics
  Bethlehem, PA  United States  18015
• Authors:
  • SIH, G C
• Publication Date: 1972-4

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Failure; Fracture mechanics; Strain (Mechanics)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation; Strain energy
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00033686
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Ship Structure Committee
• Report/Paper Numbers: IFSM-72-16
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 27 1972 12:00AM