Thermal Effects in Fracture of Multiphase Materials

The main subject of this volume is the study of the thermodynamics of fracture processes in multiphase materials. Different approaches of constitutive modelling concerning the fracture behaviour are discussed by considering the influences of microdamage processes as well as the microstructure of the fracture mechanisms arising in mechanically and/or thermally loaded heterogeneous materials. Moreover, by applying thermodynamic energy balance equations to fracture processes in multiphase thermoelastoplastic materials, the prediction of prospective paths of extending micro- and macrocracks were discussed. Finally, experimental results with failure mechanisms of different composite systems were presented, with consideration of the microstructure of those heterogeneous materials.