This book addresses the failures of structural elements, i.e. those components whose primary mission is to withstand mechanical loads. The book is intended as a self-contained source for those with different technical grades, engineers and scientists but also technicians in the field can benefit from its reading.

Dr  José Luis OTEGUI, Mech. Eng, Ph.D. (U. Waterloo) is a Full Professor, at the Dept. Materials Engineering. University of Mar del Plata, Argentina, in the areas of Mechanics of Structural Materials, Pressure Vessels and Piping. Main research activities are within the Mechanics of Materials Division of INTEMA, Institute for Materials Science & Technology (UNMdP-CONICET). Dr. Otegui is experienced in the Direction of Ph.D. and M.Sc. students, has more than 100 published articles in scientific and technological Journals and has a well established reputation for consultancy. Consultancy work includes failure analysis, numerical modelling, fracture mechanics and experimental materials evaluation.