Structural fracture mechanics

It uses methods of analytical solid mechanics, structural engineering, safety engineering, probability theory, and catastrophe theory to calculate the load and stress in the structural components and analyze the safety of a damaged structure.

There is a critical number of structural elements that defines whether the system has reserve ability or not.

[citation needed] Safety engineers use the failure of the first component as an indicator and try to intervene during the given period of time to avoid the catastrophe of the entire structure.

For example, “Leak-Before-Break”[1] methodology means that a leak will be discovered prior to a catastrophic failure of the entire piping system occurring in service.

It has been applied to pressure vessels, nuclear piping, gas and oil pipelines, etc.

Model of structural fracture mechanics.
Catastrophe failure model and reserve ability of a complex system. The model [ 2 ] supposes that failure of several elements causes neighboring elements overloading. The model equation shows the relationship between local and external stresses. The equation is similar to the cusp catastrophe behavior. The theory predicts reserve ability of the complex system and the critical external stress.