Damage and Fracture in Heterogeneous Materials

The efficiency of many technological processes, particularly in mining and civil engineering, depends essentially on the damage and fracture processes in tools and working materials (rocks), which are typically very heterogenous. This work examines the general problems related to the destruction of heterogenous materials, and details the physical mechanisms of destruction, traditional and advanced methods of damage and fracture modelling and the practical application of models of material destruction on the improvement of drilling efficiency. The book is designed for specialists working in the fields of strength of materials and mining technology, for scientists, professionals and graduate students.