Implications of fracture mechanics in engineering design

The influence of fracture mechanics theory upon the engineering design of structures is studied from the crack growth rate equation. This equation is integrated and the life of a structure, since a crack is found by inspection until it can cause the structure failure, is calculated. Also, the dependence of the life of the structure on the loading conditions and on the material properties is analyzed, to help the designer in the choice of both the material and the working stress level. These determine the frequency and the kind of inspection to which the structure has to be submitted to ensure its safety.