An Introduction to Fatigue in Metals and Composites provides a
balanced treatment of the phenomenon of fatigue in metals, nonmetals and
composites with polymeric, metallic and ceramic matrices. The
applicability of the safe life philosophy of design is examined for each
of the materials. Attention is also focused on the stable crack growth
phase of fatigue and differences in the operative mechanisms for the
various classes of materials are considered. The impacts of these
differences on the development of damage tolerance strategies are
examined. Among topics discussed are; variable amplitude loading with
tensile and compressive overload; closure obstruction; bridging
mechanisms; mixed mode states; small cracks; delamination mechanisms and
environmental conditions. The arrangement and presentation of the topics
are such that An Introduction to Fatigue in Metals and Composites
can serve as a course text for mechanical, civil, aeronautical and
astronautical engineering and material science courses as well as a
reference for engineers who are concerned with fatigue testing and
aircraft, automobile and engine design.