ABSTRACT
Fracture occurs by the separation of bonds. However, it is often preceded by plastic deformation. Hence, it is generally difficult to understand the physical basis of fracture without a careful consideration of the deformation phenomena that precede it. Nevertheless, at one extreme, one may consider the case of brittle fracture with limited or no plasticity. This represents an important industrial problem that can be overcome largely by the understanding of the factors that contribute to brittle fracture. However, ab initio models for the prediction of brittle fracture are yet to emerge.
