ABSTRACT
The application of Fracture Mechanics principles to lower strength structural steels in general engineering fields, such as pipe-lines, pressure-vessels, bridges and ships, is also being actively pursued. Although the critical catastrophic event in that particular instance was not attributed to fast fracture, it is clear that, in general, the techniques of Fracture Mechanics are vitally important in the assessment of a structure’s integrity. Despite the limitations, Fracture Mechanics is proving to be a powerful and important tool for both defect assessment and the fracture-safe design of components and structures. Much background theory has been omitted; the aim being to show how fracture toughness values are derived in practice and how these values are utilised in defect assessment and design. Present practice equates the effect of a cluster of defects to that of a sharp crack whose profile is the ellipse or semi-ellipse that circumscribes the defects.
