ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book delves into a phase of the process which is concerned with fatigue. It presents the necessary fundamentals of the theories of elasticity and plasticity. The book provides the description of the basic approach, the stress method. It focuses on a more profound approach, taking into consideration the occurrence of plastic deformation, as well. The book describes the theory that deals with the final stage of fatigue, the crack propagation. The challenge in creating a part with a predictable life expectancy is great because it is a known fact that a large number of machine parts fail due to fatigue. The book illustrates three design cases all experiencing fatigue problems. The diversified cases were chosen from real experiences concerning aircraft, military equipment and oil refineries.
