Syllabus

Fundamentals of fracture mechanics: Griffith’s crack theory, Strain energy release rate, Stress analysis of cracks and linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), Crack tip plastic zone, Plane strain and plane stress fracture toughness, Plane strain fracture toughness determination, Plane stress fracture toughness determination, Fracture toughness determination using J-integral approach.

Non-destructive testing of defects: visual inspection, liquid penetration inspection, magnetic particle inspection, eddy current inspection, ultrasonic testing, radiographic inspection.
Phenomenological description of various modes of failure, fracture, fractography

Different failures: Fatigue failure, creep and stress rupture failures, environment-assisted failures, wear failures, common failures in castings, weldments, gears, shafts and springs, failures of composites

Analyses of engineering failures: Typical defects, macroscopic fracture surface examination, metallographic and fractographic examination, steps in failure analysis, case histories.

This course is aimed to discuss about the concept of fracture and fracture mechanics in engineering materials.

The course also discuss different types of engineering failures such as fatigue, creep, environmental assisted failures, and wear mostly evident in engineering components such as castings, weldments, gears, shafts and springs.

The course teaches about the analysis and steps of failure analysis through macroscopic, microscopic and fractographic examination.

The course discuss about the detection of the failure analysis through destructive and non-destructive testing and measures required to prevent failures in engineering components.

1. Upon completion of the course, the student gathers knowledge about the fracture mechanics principles.
2. Students knows the basic concept of determining fracture toughness in materials using various methods such as plane stress, plane strain and J-integral.
3. Students learn the method in performing fractographic and metallographic examinations, interpreting macroscopic fracture surface and will be able to determine the root cause of material failure.
4. Students develop the ability to analyze and identify various failure modes, including fatigue, creep, stress rupture, environment-assisted cracking, wear, and common failures in specific components such as castings, weldments, gears, and shafts,
5. Students will be able to interpret different NDT methods such as visual inspection, liquid penetration, magnetic particle, eddy current, ultrasonic testing, and radiographic inspection to detect and assess defects in materials and structures.
6. Development of knowledge-based understanding on the reasons behind various mechanical failures including the identification of typical defects and interpretation of fracture surfaces through structure-property correlations and applying case history studies to improve the understanding of engineering failures and their prevention.

R. W. Hertzberg, Deformation and Fracture Mechanics of Engineering Materials,, John Wiley & Sons Pub. , 4th Ed. (1995).

G. E. Dieter, Mechanical Metallurgy, McGraw Hill , SI Metric Edition (since 1988)

Marc Meyers and Krishnan Chawla, Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Cambridge University Press , Second edition

Baldev Raj, T Jayakumar, M Thavasimuthu, Practical Non-Destructive Testing, Narosa Purlishing House , 3rd Ed.