RISK ANALYSIS OF FRACTURE AND FAILURE

This paper is inspired by the work of Professors Heinz Wilsdorf and Do ris Kuhlmann-Wilsdorf on fundamental aspects of ductile fracture mecha nism. Risk - a measure of the probability and severity of adverse effe cts - is introduced and related to the consequences associated with el astic (reversible) deformation, plastic (irreversible) deformation, an d catastrophic deformation (total failure). Cost-benefit-risk trade-of f analysis is discussed.