SEDL / STP / STP945-EB / STP23257S

Fracture Mechanics in Failure Analysis

Barsom, JM
Senior Materials and Product Consultant, USX Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA

Rolfe, ST
Chairman, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Pages: 25    Published: Jan 1988

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Abstract

Fracture mechanics is the best available technology for preventing and analyzing failures of structural and equipment components that are caused by the initiation and propagation of cracks. This paper presents a few observations on the failure and fracture of metals and on the use of correlations to obtain estimates of fracture toughness. The usefulness of these observations in failure analyses is illustrated by analyzing actual structural failures. The paper also presents a brief discussion of some common misconceptions that can lead to incorrect conclusions in a failure investigation.