This book systematically explains the mechanics of fracture phenomena, focusing on cracking under high temperature conditions. One of the defining characteristics of high temperature fracture is creep, a phenomenon where deformation progresses over time, eventually leading to failure. Additionally, the nonlinear nature further complicates the mechanics of such fracture. The book clarifies the fundamental principles of time-dependent nonlinear fracture mechanics associated with creep. Fatigue failure due to repeated stress or strain can occur at high temperatures, akin to its manifestation at room temperature. The core challenge in high temperature strength lies in the interaction between time- and cycle-dependent failures, known as creep–fatigue interaction. The book represents the first specialized effort to comprehensively expound on this topic, drawing upon extensive systematic experimental and analytical investigations. It also explains the intricate characteristics of microstructurally small cracks and their complex mechanical properties, demonstrating the effectiveness of statistical simulation analysis as well as systematically outlining future research directions.

Takayuki Kitamura is an emeritus professor at Kyoto University, Japan, and has a distinguished career spanning several prestigious institutions and roles. He served as a researcher at the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan, from 1979 to 1984, and as an invited researcher at NASA Lewis Research Center from 1987 to 1988. Dr. Kitamura held the position of professor at Kyoto University from 1998 to 2020 and as a specially appointed professor from 2023 to 2024. His administrative contributions include holding the positions of vice president (2007–2008) and executive vice president (2020–2023) at Kyoto University. He was also a member of the Science Council of Japan from 2008 to 2014 and served as the president of the Society of Materials Science, Japan, from 2014 to 2016. His research focuses on fracture mechanics, high temperature strength of heat-resisting materials, fracture nanomechanics, and multiphysics properties of nanomaterials.