IUTAM Symposium on Nonlinear Analysis of Fracture : Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium Held in Cambridge, U.K., 3–7 September 1995

This text records the Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium held in Cambridge in 1995. It contains 35 articles by leading authorities and addresses the modelling of fracture from a variety of perspectives, ranging over mechanics, material science, physics, geophysics, and nonlinear dynamics. The most important single practical question that is addressed is that of scale. This is considered in relation to nonlinear material behaviour, micromechanics and statistical variations, and the interaction of these aspects. Certain parts of the subject have recently experienced significant advance, from one or other of the standpoints of physics, materials science or mechanics. This book is intended to contribute towards the wider dissemination of these advances and the development of a unified perspective. It will be useful to those active in research in fracture who wish to gain an overview of the subject, taking advantage of insights gained from the whole range of this expertise. This volume constitutes the Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium on'Nonlinear Analysis of Fracture', held in Cambridge from 3rd to 7th Septem­ ber 1995. Its objective was to assess and place on record the current state of understanding of this important class of phenomena, from the standpoints of mathematics, materials science, physics and engineering. All fracture phenomena are nonlinear; the reason for inclusion of this qualification in the title was to reflect the intention that emphasis should be placed on distinctive aspects of nonlinearity, not only with regard to material consti­ tutive behaviour but also with regard to insights gained, particularly from the mathematics and physics communities, during the recent dramatic ad­ vances in understanding of nonlinear systems in general. The expertise represented in the Symposium was accordingly very wide, and many of the world's greatest authorities in their respective fields participated. The Symposium remained focussed on issues of practical significance for fracture phenomena, with concentration on aspects that are still im­ perfectly understood. The most significant unifying issue in this regard is that of scale: this theme was addressed from several perspectives. One important aspect is the problem of passing information on one scale up or down, as an input for analysis at another scale. Although this is not always the case, it may be that the microscopic process of fracture is understood in some particular class of materials. This volume constitutes the Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium on 'Nonlinear Analysis of Fracture', held in Cambridge from 3rd to 7th Septem­ ber 1995. Its objective was to assess and place on record the current state of understanding of this important class of phenomena, from the standpoints of mathematics, materials science, physics and engineering. All fracture phenomena are nonlinear; the reason for inclusion of this qualification in the title was to reflect the intention that emphasis should be placed on distinctive aspects of nonlinearity, not only with regard to material consti­ tutive behaviour but also with regard to insights gained, particularly from the mathematics and physics communities, during the recent dramatic ad­ vances in understanding of nonlinear systems in general. The expertise represented in the Symposium was accordingly very wide, and many of the world's greatest authorities in their respective fields participated. The Symposium remained focussed on issues of practical significance for fracture phenomena, with concentration on aspects that are still im­ perfectly understood. The most significant unifying issue in this regard is that of scale: this theme was addressed from several perspectives. One important aspect is the problem of passing information on one scale up or down, as an input for analysis at another scale. Although this is not always the case, it may be that the microscopic process of fracture is understood in some particular class of materials

This text records the Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium held in Cambridge in 1995. It contains 35 articles by leading authorities and addresses the modelling of fracture from a variety of perspectives, ranging over mechanics, material science, physics, geophysics, and nonlinear dynamics. The most important single practical question that is addressed is that of scale. This is considered in relation to nonlinear material behaviour, micromechanics and statistical variations, and the interaction of these aspects. Certain parts of the subject have recently experienced significant advance, from one or other of the standpoints of physics, materials science or mechanics. This book is intended to contribute towards the wider dissemination of these advances and the development of a unified perspective. It will be useful to those active in research in fracture who wish to gain an overview of the subject, taking advantage of insights gained from the whole range of this expertise.