Principles of Fracture Mechanics

Intended for a first course in the mechanics of fracture at the graduate level, this book looks at the mathematical principles of linear elastic fracture mechanics and their application to engineering design. Material is presented in a conversational yet rigorous manner. Unified mathematical treatment based on the generalized Westergaard formulation provides a basis for the analytical, numerical, and experimental treatment of crack problems in two dimensions. There is treatment of fatigue crack growth behavior, covering both analytical methods and the NASGRO 3.0 and AFGROW 4.0 computer programs. Sanford teaches graduate courses in solid mechanics and fracture at the University of Maryland. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Professor Emeritus R.J. Sanford has had two careers involving fracture mechanics. He spent 22 years at the Naval Research Laboratory as a research engineer during a period of intense fracture mechanics discovery at NRL under the direction of George R. Irwin. He left NRL in 1982 to join the faculty at the University of Maryland. At the College Park campus his focus has been on graduate education in solid mechanics and fracture. He is a Fellow in the Society for Experimental Mechanics and has received both their Hetenyi Award (for research) and the Frocht Award (for teaching excellence) and is a member of Committee E08 of the American Society for Materials and Testing (ASTM).