Book excerpt: Crack Control: Using Fracture Theory to Create Tough New Materials goes beyond just trying to understand the origin of cracks and fracture in materials by also providing readers with the knowledge and techniques required to stop cracks at the nano- and micro-levels, covering the fundamentals of crack propagation, prevention, and healing. The book starts by providing a concise foundational overview of cracks and fracture mechanics, then looks at real-life ways that new tougher materials have been developed via crack inhibition. Topics such as crack equilibrium, stress criterion, and stress equations are then outlined, as are methods for inventing new crack-resistant materials. The importance of crack healing is emphasized and cracks that grow under tension, bending, compression, crazing, and adhesion are discussed at length as well - Provides a better understanding of crack formation in various materials allowing for more efficient investigations of crack-based material or structural failure - Demonstrates how to prevent cracks by arresting them at the nano- and micro-levels - Looks at methods for developing new tougher and stronger materials through crack inhibition - Emphasizes the importance of crack healing and explains crack stopping through changing the peel shape in various ways