This book is a well-condensed, useful textbook that introduces damage mechanics and fracture mechanics. It does not dive deeply into all of the failure modes or mathematical models of all the related theories in applied mechanics, but is a sufficient level of introduction that is necessary to understand the content. The book is comprised of five chapters.

Chapter 1 starts from a classical uniaxial tensile test with round and flat shapes to introduce the stress–strain behavior of a ductile aluminum alloy with corresponding microstructure changes at different stages. This chapter provides the outline and focus of the book, where three theories—classical continuum mechanics, continuum damage mechanics, and fracture mechanics—are described based on material behavior at the microscale.

Chapter 2 introduces elastic materials behavior under simple load conditions. The introduction to the three-dimensional Hooke’s Law for isotropic and linear-elastic materials behavior is very useful and essential for finite elements and other numerical analytical methods for engineering design and failure analysis.

Chapter 3 covers the equations for plasticity of materials through yield condition, flow rule, and hardening mechanisms. The classical failure criteria and several fracture hypotheses are also introduced with well-illustrated graphs and equations.

Chapter 4 introduces straightforward ductile damage mechanics by relating the behavior with the microstructure evolutions to the elastoplastic deformation stage followed by the introduction of Lemaitre and Gurson damage models in one- and three-dimensional circumstances.

Chapter 5 introduces the concepts of failure criteria in the presence of cracks under different stress conditions. The concept of stress concentration based on stress intensity factor, energy release rate, and J-integral is also introduced based on different geometry and defect configurations.

As noted by the author, the purpose of this book is to provide an introduction to damage and fracture mechanics suitable for undergraduates. The author has succeeded in accomplishing the scope and organizing the content in a very readable structure without losing any important information on this topic. Each chapter has sufficient figures/illustrations to help understand the information. There are worked examples in some chapters. The supplementary problems are taken from tutorials in the class, but there are no solutions provided, which encourages students to find the solution on their own with some hints. This book will be useful not only to students, but also junior engineers who frequently utilize these principles. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone who needs to learn fracture mechanics.

Reviewer: Yan Hong of General Electric, USA.