A complete and comprehensive theory of failure is developed for homogeneous and isotropic materials. The full range of materials types are covered from very ductile metals to extremely brittle glasses and minerals.

• 1: The perspective on failure and direction of approach


• 2: History, conditions, and requirements


• 3: Isotropic baselines


• 4: The failure theory for isotropic materials


• 5: Isotropic materials failure behavior


• 6: Experimental and theoretical evaluation


• 7: Isotropic materials failure examples


• 8: The ductile/brittle transition for isotropic materials


• 9: Defining yield stress and failure stress (strength)


• 10: Fracture mechanics


• 11: Anisotropic, unidirectional fiber composites failure


• 12: Anisotropic, fiber composite laminates failure


• 13: Micromechanics failure analysis


• 14: Nanomechanics failure analysis


• 15: Damage, cumulative damage, creep, and fatigue failure


• 16: Probabilistic failure and probabilistic life prediction

Richard M. Christensen has over many years held positions of responsibility in industry, national laboratories, and academia. He has always been active in professional affairs and has held several leadership positions in professional societies. His technical responsibilities and research interests have been in the mechanics of materials for solids, structures, and non-Newtonian fluids. He holds five patents, has written two books and 100 archive journal papers. These are on the following and related topics: properties of polymers (viscoelasticity), composite materials, wave effects in heterogeneous materials, low density materials (extreme porosity), kinetic crack growth, life prediction and durability, failure criteria for isotropic and anisotropic solids. In 2013 he was awarded the Timoshenko Medal by the American Association of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This award is one of the highest honors in the field of applied mechanics.