This web page acts as a portal into a series of Interactive Failure and Fracture Mechanics Resources. These are intended to supplement undergraduate modules dealing with fatigue, fracture and failure analysis, or to support Continuing Professional Development short courses. The aim was to improve student-centered learning in the integrative skill areas of linear elastic fracture mechanics and failure analysis. Successful failure analysis depends on metallurgical/materials input as well as a good knowledge of design, stress analysis and fabrication. It is therefore a high level engineering skill and case studies are an excellent means of achieving "authentic learning".
These resources have been developed over a number of years and are based on experience of the difficulties and pitfalls found by students in grappling with an inherently defect-based approach to engineering. Further development is planned, particularly of the failure analysis case studies, although this depends on finding suitable time. The case studies arose out my experience as a consulting failure analyst.
Use of these resources is open to any academic and student provided that they are not used for financial gain, and that appropriate acknowledgment is made to the author and to their provenance. I would be interested to hear feedback on their use and to find out where they are being used.
http://www.fatiguefracture.com
Professor M N James' homepage can be accessed at: