ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the various ways in which materials can fail in service. There are many possible causes of failure, some due to the various loading regimes that are applied to materials in service. Situations where stress is the major factor on failure. Other component factors that can cause or contribute to failure include environmental factors such as moisture, corrosive agents, chemical attack, ambient temperature and certain components of solar radiation. The chapter discusses on the material property which is known as fracture toughness and includes the ways of measuring fracture toughness by impact testing. It reviews the fracture behaviour of various types of materials and the fatigue, impact and creep regimes. Many polymers experience time-dependent deformation when subjected to constant stress level is viscoelastic creep. Creep of concrete has both good and undesirable aspects. Brittle materials exhibit little or no plastic deformation before they fracture. In contrast with brittle materials, ductile materials exhibit gross plastic deformation before fracture.
