|
|
|
| Current Issue |
|
|
| Resources |
|
|
|
Mastering the Breaks
| Article
# : |
16969 |
|
|
Section : |
NATURAL SCIENCE
|
| Issue
Date : |
4 / 1990 |
2,209 Words |
| Author
: |
John D. Landes
John D. Landes is professor of engineering science and
mechanics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. |
The festive mood of a children's birthday party was suddenly halted by the sound of shattering glass; a pitcher of lemonade had broken on the floor. For an instant, tension filled the room as each child looked to see which of them would receive the blame for the accident. In a few seconds relief spread through the group as they realized that the father, not a child, was the cause of the calamity. "It's OK," said one of the small girls. "My daddy is allowed to break things; that's his job."
Her father is indeed one of a growing group of research engineers who studies how and why things break, and how to prevent breakage. Their attention is directed primarily toward structural materials, not dinnerware, and they are called fracture mechanics engineers.
Consequences of Fracture
From our earliest experiences we have learned that fracture can occur very easily in some materials, like mother's good china or grandmother's antique vase. We also know that the result of fracture is usually bad. A fracture mechanics engineer understands this better than most. The daily newspaper often reminds him of the importance of his job and of his need to work even harder. Stories of airplane crashes, collapsed buildings or bridges, or explosions in industrial sites make him stop to wonder. Was the accident related to a material failure? Could the accident have been prevented by better use of modern technology, particularly fracture mechanics?
Fractures are expensive. A survey conducted for the National Bureau of Standards (now known as the National Institute for Standards and Technology) revealed that the cost of fractures in the United States was $132 billion per year (in 1982 dollars). Further, the study showed that more than half of that amount could be saved through the proper use of existing technology or through the development of new technology.
However, the most tragic consequence of a fracture is the injury or loss of life that can occur as a result, often to innocent bystanders. Passengers on an airplane, occupants of a building, or even persons on the street in the vicinity of an accident can be the unfortunate victims. Although not all tragic accidents are related to fracture problems, many of them are.
The study of fracture knows no national boundaries. Although many advances have come from work in the United Sates, fracture research
...
Read Full Article
Look for this article in Ask.com
|
|
