Fundamentals of Fracture with Fundamental Papers

The field of fracture mechanics has advanced significantly over the past 100 years. Over this time, core papers have emerged that serve as milestones for advances in the field. This course aims to present the key developments that have occurred using these milestone papers as the basis for discussion. Beginning with fundamental concepts like energy balance introduced by Griffith, we will then move forward into
the foundations of modern linear elastic fracture mechanics, treating foundational analytical and computational methods as they emerge, roughly chronologically. Cohesive and mixed-mode fracture will be discussed, as well as key experimental advances. We will conclude with presentation of state-of-the-art computational methods, including the phase-field model and atomistic processes in fracture.

For 10 weeks students will be assigned a paper to read and discuss. Following this series of discussions, students will then take four weeks to prepare a project, to be presented at a poster session during the last week of classes. Evaluation is based on the presentation of the project in the poster session and attendance and participation in the discussion sessions.