Advanced Mechanics of Materials and Applied Elasticity, Fifth Edition

Chapter 4. Failure Criteria

4.1 Introduction

The efficiency of design relies in great measure on an ability to predict the circumstances under which failure is likely to occur. The important variables connected with structural failure include the nature of the material; the load configuration; the rate of loading; the shape, surface peculiarities, and temperature of the member; and the characteristics of the medium surrounding the member (environmental conditions). Exact quantitative formulation of the problem of failure and accurate means for predicting failure represent areas of current research.

In Chapter 2 the stress–strain properties and characteristics of engineering materials were presented. We now discuss the mechanical behavior of materials ...