This book brings together scientists from diverse research communities to focus on four different aspects of fracture - instability dynamics, scaling/fractal geometry, the brittle/ductile transition, and fracture at interfaces. In each case, theoretical issues, as well as experimental and computer-simulated techniques, are addressed. Materials of interest range from ceramics to thin films, multilayer structures, composites and bulk crystals. Topics include: brittle/ductile behavior and crack tip processes; dislocations - theory/simulation approaches; fracture at interfaces - the role of impurities; fracture in ceramics and composites; dynamic instabilities in fracture; fractals and scaling in fracture; and friction, wear and peel processes.
