Introduction

In this chapter, the basic tenets of fracture mechanics are described. The first term of the asymptotic expression for the stress and displacement fields in the neighborhood of a crack tip is presented for a homogeneous, isotropic, linear elastic material. The concept of fracture modes and stress intensity factors are discussed. The energy approach through the Griffith energy is delineated. A presentation of the J-integral and its relationship to the Griffith energy and the stress intensity factors is given. A description of a fracture criterion through the fracture toughness is presented.