Covers the implementation and use of engineered advanced metallic, ceramic, and polymeric materials and composites, and serves as a companion to volume to STP 1157. 21 peer-reviewed papers cover fatigue crack initiation, crack growth, and fracture toughness of advanced structural materials such as:

• Silicon nitride

• Special titanium alloys and steels

• Particle-reinforced aluminum alloys

• Cobalt-based alloys

• Thermoplastics

• Graphite-epoxy composites.

Other topics include:

• Effects of crack closure as well as crack bridging on fatigue crack growth

• Complex multiaxial cyclic deformation and creep behavior

• Effects of thermal fatigue on coatings and their optical properties

• Applications of fatigue and fracture properties of high-strength, high-conductivity alloys, useful to the electric power industry.

Nondestructive evaluation of advanced materials that may have manufacturing defects and/or have experienced in-service damage, and the popular acoustic-ultrasonic technique are also discussed.