This book introduces recent theoretical developments concerning the dynamic behaviour of fracture. Readers learn how the recent development of molecular dynamics and other state-of-the-art methods can help to solve the important problem of fracture from the atomic level.

This volume contains the papers presented at the IUT AM Symposium of "Mesoscopic Dynamics of Fracture Process and Materials Strength", held in July 2003, at the Hotel Osaka Sun Palace, Osaka, Japan. The Symposium was proposed in 2001, aiming at organizing concentrated discussions on current understanding of fracture process and inhomogeneous deformation governing the materials strength with emphasis on the mesoscopic dynamics associated with evolutional mechanical behaviour under micro/macro mutual interaction. The decision of the General Assembly of International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUT AM) to accept our proposal was well-timed and attracted attention. Driven by the development of new theoretical and computational techniques, various novel challenges to investigate the mesoscopic dynamics have been actively done recently, including large-scaled 3D atomistic simulations, discrete dislocation dynamics and other micro/mesoscopic computational analyses. The Symposium attracted sixty-six participants from eight countries, and forty two papers were presented. The presentations comprised a wide variety of fundamental subjects of physics, mechanical models, computational strategies as well as engineering applications. Among the subjects, discussed are (a) dislocation patterning, (b) crystal plasticity, (c) characteristic fracture of amorphous/nanocrystal, (d) nano-indentation, (e) ductile-brittle transition, (f) ab-initio calculation, (g) computational methodology for multi-scale analysis and others.

This handbook covers the peridynamic modeling of failure and damage. Peridynamics is a reformulation of continuum mechanics based on integration of interactions rather than spatial differentiation of displacements. The book extends the classical theory of continuum mechanics to allow unguided modeling of crack propagation/fracture in brittle, quasi-brittle, and ductile materials; autonomous transition from continuous damage/fragmentation to fracture; modeling of long-range forces within a continuous body; and multiscale coupling in a consistent mathematical framework.

Considerable progress has been made recently in quantifying geometrical and physical properties of fault surfaces and adjacent fractured and granulated damage zones in active faulting environments. There has also been significant progress in developing rheologies and computational frameworks that can model the dynamics of fault zone processes. This volume provides state-of-the-art theoretical and observational results on the mechanics, structure and evolution of fault zones. Subjects discussed include damage rheologies, development of instabilities, fracture and friction, dynamic rupture experiments, and analyses of earthquake and fault zone data.

Dynamics of Materials: Experiments, Models and Applications addresses the basic laws of high velocity flow/deformation and dynamic failure of materials under dynamic loading. The book comprehensively covers different perspectives on volumetric law, including its macro-thermodynamic basis, solid physics basis, related dynamic experimental study, distortional law, including the rate-dependent macro-distortional law reflecting strain-rate effect, its micro-mechanism based on dislocation dynamics, and dynamic experimental research based on the stress wave theory. The final section covers dynamic failure in relation to dynamic damage evolution, including the unloading failure of a crack-free body, dynamics of cracks under high strain-rate, and more. - Covers models for applications, along with the fundamentals of the mechanisms behind the models - Tackles the difficult interdisciplinary nature of the subject, combining macroscopic continuum mechanics with thermodynamics and macro-mechanics expression with micro-physical mechanisms - Provides a review of the latest experimental methods for the equation of state for solids under high pressure and the distortional law under high strain-rates of materials

ICSSD 2002 is the second in the series of International Conferences on Structural Stability and Dynamics, which provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences in structural stability and dynamics among academics, engineers, scientists and applied mathematicians. Held in the modern and vibrant city of Singapore, ICSSD 2002 provides a peep at the areas which experts on structural stability and dynamics will be occupied with in the near future. From the technical sessions, it is evident that well-known structural stability and dynamic theories and the computational tools have evolved to an even more advanced stage. Many delegates from diverse lands have contributed to the ICSSD 2002 proceedings, along with the participation of colleagues from the First Asian Workshop on Meshfree Methods and the International Workshop on Recent Advances in Experiments and Computations on Modeling of Heterogeneous Systems. Forming a valuable source for future reference, the proceedings contain 153 papers ? including 3 keynote papers and 23 invited papers ? contributed by authors from all over the world who are working in advanced multi-disciplinary areas of research in engineering. All these papers are peer-reviewed, with excellent quality, and cover the topics of structural stability, structural dynamics, computational methods, wave propagation, nonlinear analysis, failure analysis, inverse problems, non-destructive evaluation, smart materials and structures, vibration control and seismic responses.The major features of the book are summarized as follows: a total of 153 papers are included with many of them presenting fresh ideas and new areas of research; all papers have been peer-reviewed and are grouped into sections for easy reference; wide coverage of research areas is provided and yet there is good linkage with the central topic of structural stability and dynamics; the methods discussed include those that are theoretical, analytical, computational, artificial, evolutional and experimental; the applications range from civil to mechanical to geo-mechanical engineering, and even to bioengineering.

Focusing on both academic questions and applications of self-assembly of this extremely important class of compounds, this book discusses not only the self-organization of inorganic and magnetic nanocrystals, but also their collective optical and magnetic properties, as well as the in-situ fabrication of metal nanoparticles in solid matrices. Professor Marie-Paule Pileni, a distinguished leader in this field, is joined by a select group of expert authors to provide 14 chapters covering important aspects of self-assembled nanomaterials. The result is invaluable reading for inorganic and physical chemists, colloid chemists, polymer chemists, materials scientists, physicists, and chemical engineers working with and/or developing nanoparticle systems.

A collection of Papers Presented at the 28th International Conference and Exposition on Advanced Ceramics and Composites held in conjunction with the 8th International Symposium on Ceramics in Energy Storage and Power Conversion Systems.

The response of concrete under tensile loading is crucial for most applications because concrete is much weaker in tension than in compression. Understanding the response mechanisms of concrete under tensile conditions is therefore key to understanding and using concrete in structural applications. Understanding the Tensile Properties of Concrete Second Edition summarises key recent research in this important subject area. After an introduction to concrete, the book is divided into two parts: part one on static response and part two on dynamic response. Part one starts with a summary chapter on the most important parameters that affect the tensile response of concrete. Chapters show how multi scale modelling is used to relate concrete composition to tensile properties. Part two focuses on dynamic response and starts with an introduction to the different regimes of dynamic loading, ranging from the low frequency loading by wind or earthquakes up to the extreme dynamic conditions due to explosions and ballistic impacts. Following chapters review dynamic testing techniques and devices that deal with the various regimes of dynamic loading. Later chapters highlight the dynamic behaviour of concrete from different viewpoints, and the book ends with a chapter on practical examples of how detailed knowledge on tensile properties is used by engineers in structural applications. Drawing on the work of some of the leading experts in the field, the book is fully updated and will be a valuable reference for civil and structural engineers as well as those researching this important material. - Presents recent research in the areas of understanding the response mechanisms of concrete under tensile conditions - Provides a summary of the most important parameters that affect the tensile response of concrete and shows how multi scale modeling is used to relate concrete composition to tensile properties - Highlights the dynamic behavior of concrete from different viewpoints and provides practical examples of how detailed knowledge on tensile properties is used by engineers in structural applications - Presents recent advancements in tensile strength determination under static and dynamic loading conditions for concrete structures - Covers HSFRC and FRHSC - Presents new work on non-local models and damage modeling, the dynamic increase factor for tensile strength, fracture energy and anchors, and slop stabilization