Failure of materials in mechanical design

Failure of metals still exists in our midst. This problem has been around for many a year and yet no full explanation exists. We have made great strides in understanding its many component parts but the path is still strewn with a number of obstacles. Fatigue consists of a number of different facets which require a combined effort of analysis and experimentation. This unique book covers a number of different members of the fatigue family and goes into detail on a number of them. The book consists of 17 chapters, each chock full of information. The initial chapter considers the role of failure prevention in mechanical design and provides some of the prime design objectives. Chapter 2 discusses the various modes of mechanical failure. Chapter 3 is the heart of the book and treats the strength and deformation of engineering materials. This includes elastic and plastic response, fracture and a good section on dislocation theory. The author touches upon elastic fracture and elasto-plastic fracture mechanics. No mention is made of J integral which is an important aspect of plastic fracture mechanics. Chapter 4 treats state of stress and various parts making up this important concept. Chapter 5 focusses upon relationships between stress and strain. The author illustrates the relationships between elastic and plastic stress-strain. The author then spends time in developing the combined stress theories of failure. This includes the maximum normal stress theory, Tresca-Guest theory, Beltrami theory, VonMises Hencky (distortion energy) theory and Mohr's failure theory. This is a very well "put-together" chapter, concise but informative. Chapter 7, the most lengthiest, treats high cycle fatigue. Beginning with the nature of fatigue and fatigue loading, it progresses to S/N relationships and the various factors which affect the S/N curves. This includes geometrical considerations, size effects, residual stress effects with brief mention of corrosion and fretting. We next delve into nonzero mean stress and multiaxial fatigue stresses. The chapter concludes with the uses of the various components of multiaxial fatigue stresses as applied to fatigue stresses. This is an excellent chapter and should be read by all concerned parties.