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Fracture of Materials: Moving Forwards
Engineering Fracture Mechanics 74 (2007) 1007–1008 www.elsevier.com/locate/engfracmech
Preface
Fracture of Materials: Moving Forwards
Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai BSc(Eng) PhD DSc HK DEng USyd FAA FTSE FHKEng FWIF FASME FHKIE FIEAust Australian Federation Fellow; University Chair, Sydney University; Director, Sydney University Centre for Advanced Materials Technology Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai has played a key role in the development and application of fracture mechanics to an extensive range of materials and applications over his exceptionally fruitful career. This special edition contains a series of papers contributed by his international colleagues to commemorate his 60th birthday in 2006. The breadth of topics covered reflects the prolific and eclectic career of Prof. Mai himself. Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai ( ) was born in Hong Kong in 1946. He first studied at the University of Hong Kong, obtaining a BSc(Eng) degree in 1969, with First Class Honours and the Williamson Prize, and a PhD degree in 1972 under the supervision of Prof. Charles Gurney OBE. He was a postdoctoral researcher at both the University of Michigan (with Prof. Tony Atkins FREng) and Imperial College London (with Prof. Gordon Williams FRS, FREng), both of whom have contributed to this journal. In December 1976, he joined the academic staff of the University of Sydney as a lecturer, beginning a fruitful collaboration with Prof. Brian Cotterell, who has also contributed. He was appointed to a Personal Chair in Mechanical Engineering in 1987 and founded the Centre for Advanced Materials Technology (CAMT) at the University of Sydney in 1988, acting as Director since its inception to the present. In 2002, Prof. Mai was awarded an inaugural Australian Federation Fellowship in 2002 by the Australian Research Council, the most prestigious research fellowship available in Australia. In 2004, he obtained a University Chair at University of Sydney. 0013-7944/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2006.12.019
1008
Preface / Engineering Fracture Mechanics 74 (2007) 1007–1008
Prof. Mai’s most recognised work is the utilisation of the energy balance principle in the development of understanding of the effects of crack wake and process zones upon the toughness of materials. This work initiated with his application of the concept of fracture mechanics to the failure behaviour of cementious and fibre cement materials. He then demonstrated the power of the utilization of fibre coatings to produce high-toughness and high-strength composites and extended the crack-wake bridging concept into the concept of toughening of advanced ceramics. Prof. Mai’s development of the Essential Work of Fracture (EWF) concept enabled fracture assessment to be undertaken on thin sheets and polymers. This concept is addressed in this volume by Prof. Gordon Williams. In recent years, Prof. Mai has applied his ‘energies’ to polymer and ceramic nanocomposite materials making further significant impacts in these fields. The International Congress on Fracture (ICF) recognized Prof. Mai’s contributions by making him its President in 2002–2005. His other roles and recognitions include his election to: The Australian Academy of Science, The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, The Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences, The World Innovation Foundation, and The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has also been; Director of DSTO-AED Centre of Expertise in Damage Mechanics (1997–2003); President, Australian Fracture Group (AFG), Inc (1996–1998); and Executive Council Member, International Committee on Composite Materials (1997-present). He is the Editor, Associate Editor and Member of Editorial Boards of over 25 international scientific journals including some of the most prestigious journals in materials science, in particular fracture mechanics. Among his many honours and awards, he received the Centenary Medal (2003), the AFG Achievement Award (2000), ICF Honorary Fellowship (2001), and the RILEM Award and Robert L’Hermite Medal (1981). A selection of Prof. Mai’s colleagues have contributed to this Special Edition to honour his significant contribution to the field of Engineering Fracture Mechanics. All papers have been subjected to the standard review processes of the journal and received at least two reviews. Some of the papers were presented orally at a special International Workshop ‘‘Fracture of Materials: Moving Forwards’’ held at the University of Sydney to honour Prof. Mai in January 23–25, 2006. In addition to the contributors, we would like to thank all the reviewers and especially Prof. Schwalbe, Editor of Engineering Fracture Mechanics, for making this Special Edition possible. Our greatest thanks, however, go to our teacher, colleague and mentor, Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai. Mark Hoffman Xiao Zhi Hu Lin Ye Available online 22 December 2006
Preface
Fracture of Materials: Moving Forwards
Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai BSc(Eng) PhD DSc HK DEng USyd FAA FTSE FHKEng FWIF FASME FHKIE FIEAust Australian Federation Fellow; University Chair, Sydney University; Director, Sydney University Centre for Advanced Materials Technology Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai has played a key role in the development and application of fracture mechanics to an extensive range of materials and applications over his exceptionally fruitful career. This special edition contains a series of papers contributed by his international colleagues to commemorate his 60th birthday in 2006. The breadth of topics covered reflects the prolific and eclectic career of Prof. Mai himself. Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai ( ) was born in Hong Kong in 1946. He first studied at the University of Hong Kong, obtaining a BSc(Eng) degree in 1969, with First Class Honours and the Williamson Prize, and a PhD degree in 1972 under the supervision of Prof. Charles Gurney OBE. He was a postdoctoral researcher at both the University of Michigan (with Prof. Tony Atkins FREng) and Imperial College London (with Prof. Gordon Williams FRS, FREng), both of whom have contributed to this journal. In December 1976, he joined the academic staff of the University of Sydney as a lecturer, beginning a fruitful collaboration with Prof. Brian Cotterell, who has also contributed. He was appointed to a Personal Chair in Mechanical Engineering in 1987 and founded the Centre for Advanced Materials Technology (CAMT) at the University of Sydney in 1988, acting as Director since its inception to the present. In 2002, Prof. Mai was awarded an inaugural Australian Federation Fellowship in 2002 by the Australian Research Council, the most prestigious research fellowship available in Australia. In 2004, he obtained a University Chair at University of Sydney. 0013-7944/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2006.12.019
1008
Preface / Engineering Fracture Mechanics 74 (2007) 1007–1008
Prof. Mai’s most recognised work is the utilisation of the energy balance principle in the development of understanding of the effects of crack wake and process zones upon the toughness of materials. This work initiated with his application of the concept of fracture mechanics to the failure behaviour of cementious and fibre cement materials. He then demonstrated the power of the utilization of fibre coatings to produce high-toughness and high-strength composites and extended the crack-wake bridging concept into the concept of toughening of advanced ceramics. Prof. Mai’s development of the Essential Work of Fracture (EWF) concept enabled fracture assessment to be undertaken on thin sheets and polymers. This concept is addressed in this volume by Prof. Gordon Williams. In recent years, Prof. Mai has applied his ‘energies’ to polymer and ceramic nanocomposite materials making further significant impacts in these fields. The International Congress on Fracture (ICF) recognized Prof. Mai’s contributions by making him its President in 2002–2005. His other roles and recognitions include his election to: The Australian Academy of Science, The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, The Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences, The World Innovation Foundation, and The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has also been; Director of DSTO-AED Centre of Expertise in Damage Mechanics (1997–2003); President, Australian Fracture Group (AFG), Inc (1996–1998); and Executive Council Member, International Committee on Composite Materials (1997-present). He is the Editor, Associate Editor and Member of Editorial Boards of over 25 international scientific journals including some of the most prestigious journals in materials science, in particular fracture mechanics. Among his many honours and awards, he received the Centenary Medal (2003), the AFG Achievement Award (2000), ICF Honorary Fellowship (2001), and the RILEM Award and Robert L’Hermite Medal (1981). A selection of Prof. Mai’s colleagues have contributed to this Special Edition to honour his significant contribution to the field of Engineering Fracture Mechanics. All papers have been subjected to the standard review processes of the journal and received at least two reviews. Some of the papers were presented orally at a special International Workshop ‘‘Fracture of Materials: Moving Forwards’’ held at the University of Sydney to honour Prof. Mai in January 23–25, 2006. In addition to the contributors, we would like to thank all the reviewers and especially Prof. Schwalbe, Editor of Engineering Fracture Mechanics, for making this Special Edition possible. Our greatest thanks, however, go to our teacher, colleague and mentor, Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai. Mark Hoffman Xiao Zhi Hu Lin Ye Available online 22 December 2006