Fracture mechanics

Summary

Fracture mechanics is the part of solid mechanics that studies bodies containing cracks. It computes the stress and strain fields near a crack, which are singular at the crack tip in linear elasticity. It gives criteria that decide when a crack grows. Its central quantities are the stress intensity factor, the energy release rate and the J-integral. It explains why structures fail at loads far below the strength of the flawless material. It is the basis of the damage-tolerant design of aircraft, pipelines and pressure vessels.