This book introduces a trans-scale framework necessary for the physical
understanding of breakdown behaviors and presents some new paradigm to
clarify the mechanisms underlying the trans-scale processes. The book,
which is based on the interaction of mechanics and statistical physics,
will help to deepen the understanding of how microdamage induces
disaster and benefit the forecasting of the occurrence of catastrophic
rupture. It offers notes and problems in each part as interesting
background and illustrative exercises.
Readers of the book would be graduate students, researchers, engineers
working on civil, mechanical and geo-engineering, etc. However, people
with various background but interested in disaster reduction and
forecasting, like applied physics, geophysics, seismology, etc., may
also be interested in the book.