Fracture and Toughness of Materials

This lecture introduces the concept of stress intensity and its relation to fracture and toughness of materials. It covers topics such as the mechanical properties near crack tips, the energy required for crack advancement, and the differences in behavior between ductile and brittle materials. The instructor explains how materials like metals, ceramics, polymers, and foams respond to stress and propagate cracks. Various constants and exam formulas are discussed to quantify material properties and predict crack behavior under different conditions.