Safety estimation for construction units with cracks under complex loading

To evaluate the safety of components with cracks subject to complex stresses, the author introduces a generalized, practice–oriented fracture criterion (ESIF–criterion), which agrees with the assertions of numerous previously known criteria and can be confirmed by a number of experiments. Apart from the determination of safety factors to prevent fractures, this fracture criterion also makes it possible to answer questions regarding the permissible maximum loads to be applied to construction components, the critical crack lengths and the direction of crack propagation in case of fracture. The usefulness of the fracture criterion for the evaluation of the safety of building components is demonstrated in examples.