Synergetics: Strength and Fracture of Metallic Materials

In approaches of a new science - synergetics - the deformed solid is examined as a synergetic system exchanging energy and matter with the environment. Taking these approaches and fractal theory into account, the author generalizes the literature data on the mechanical behaviour of materials. Fracture is interpreted as a nonequilibrium phase transition preceded by spontaneous rearrangement of the dislocation substructure. Parameters characterising the dissipative properties of materials are proposed and the existence of an universal relationship between the fundamental mechanical properties on micro- and macro levels is shown. Extensive experimental data confirming this relationship on the basis of steels with different strength levels are presented.