Fracture Mechanics: Stress Intensity Factor

This lecture covers the concept of stress intensity factor in fracture mechanics, focusing on the relationship between stress and crack length. It explains how the stress is concentrated near the crack tip and decreases with distance, defining the stress intensity factor as a measure of stress concentration. The lecture discusses the prediction of crack propagation and the critical crack length for fracture. It also explores the energy release rate and the ténacité of materials, highlighting the difference between ductile and brittle materials in terms of crack propagation. Practical summaries on material properties and fracture behavior are provided.