Fracture Mechanics: Crack Growth and Weakest Link

This lecture covers the concept of fracture mechanics, focusing on crack growth and the weakest link theory. It discusses the relationship between applied stress and crack propagation, the significance of the largest crack in determining material failure, and the statistical distribution of crack sizes. The instructor explains the Weibull model for random data, the importance of testing at different stress levels, and the characteristics of fibers in composites. The lecture also delves into the Weakest Link Failure theory and Extreme Value Statistics, emphasizing the role of initial flaws in materials and the impact of longer fibers on material strength.