Griffith's theory of brittle failures; Irwin's stress intensity factors;
Linear elastic fracture mechanics: The stress analysis of crack tips, macroscopic theories in crack extension, Instability and R-curves,
Crack tip plasticity, K as a failure criterion, Mixed mode of fracture, analytical and experimental methods of determining K;
Elastic plastic fracture mechanics: Crack tip opening displacement, J integrals, crack growth resistance curves, crack tip constraint
under large scale yielding, creep crack growth;
Microscopic theories of fracture: Ductile and cleavage fracture, ductile-brittle transition, inter-granular fracture;
Fatigue crack propagation: Fatigue crack growth theories, crack closure, microscopic theories of fatigue crack growth;
Applications of theories of fracture mechanics in design and materials development.