Download or read book Crack Paths written by L. P. Pook and published by Witpress. This book was released on 2002 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many engineering structures and components contain cracks or crack-like flaws and it is widely recognized that crack growth must be considered both in the design and analysis of failures. The complete solution of a crack growth problem therefore includes determination of the crack path. At present the factors controlling the path taken by a propagating crack are not completely understood. In general crack paths are difficult to predict, while in practice their development in structures is often determined by large-scale structural tests. In introductory texts on fracture mechanics it is usually assumed that the crack path is known, either from theoretical considerations, or from the results of laboratory tests.