RESEARCH CHALLENGES ARISING FROM CURRENT AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF DYNAMIC FRACTURE-MECHANICS TO THE INTEGRITY OF ENGINEERING STRUCTURES

Following several decades of contentiousness, the general framework of dynamic fracture mechanics is now generally agreed upon. While some basic issues remain unresolved, many successful practical applications have been made. Examples are provided in this paper that are drawn from the transport of fluids in gas pipelines, and of people in aircraft and aerospace vehicles. These examples illustrate that the changing trend in research and development, in which a much greater emphasis is now being placed on short-range practical applications, can nonetheless identify and stimulate basic research. Research challenges emerging from the dynamic fracture mechanics applications outlined in this paper are provided to support this contention.