MME 620 - Fracture Mechanics and Plasticity Theory

(4 credits)

Prerequisite(s): MME 604. The stress and deformation field in the region of a crack are derived using linear elastic analysis. Topics include analyzing the change in potential energy due to crack propagation (Griffith’s analysis), understanding the origin of critical fracture toughness parameters, and developing fundamental fracture criteria. In addition the course focuses on time-dependent plastic deformation analysis. Relationships between stress and strain that agree with experimental observations beyond the yield stress are constructed . Application of these inelastic constitutive relationships in predicting plastic deformations in simple components are presented. Drucker’s stability postulates are discussed, and the principles of slip-line theory are given. General theorems of limit analysis and their application in structural analysis are highlighted. The J-integral and fundamentals of elastic-plastic fracture analysis are presented. Cross-listed with CVE 620.

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