This book contains a selection of the lectures presented at the Euromech
Colloquium 255, held at the Liborianum, Paderborn, from 31 October to 2
November 1989. The subject of the Colloquium "Thermal Effects in
Fracture of Multiphase Materials" attracted about 50 scientists from 13
coun- tries. Several well known scientists who are active in research on
thermal effects in fracture proces- ses were present at the Colloquium
as lecturers (29 lectures were delivered) as well as valuable
participants of the intensive discussions which took part during the
sessions, coffe breaks and lunch times. The closing session of the
Colloquium was devoted to a general discussion on the trends in the
development of the research in the field, the prospects of the
theoretical research, new materials (composites, ceramics etc. ), and
the trends in technological applications. Over twenty comments and
remarks have been made during this final general discussion, showing the
interest of the audi- torium in such an exchange of viewpoints. However,
this discussion is not reflected in this volume. The Colloquium has been
subdivided into six sessions: I "Thermodynamics of Fracture Processes"
II . "Fracture of Nonhomogeneous Solids" III "Thermal Cracking of
Heterogeneous Materials" IV-VI "Fracture Phenomena in Composite Systems
I-III" One of the main topics in session I consisted in the description
of the influence of thermal effects on shear band localization failure.
Thereby shear bands nucleate due.