Aplication in Mechanical Engineering of Principle of Critical Energy

The Principle of Critical Energy (PCE) is an Energonics¿ principle, Energonics being a comprehensive chapter of science meaning ¿energy in action¿. This principle may be used to solve various effects cumulation or/and superposition problems of same nature actions but of different types, or of different nature (mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic¿) on material bodies. Numerous experimental results of effects cumulation or/and superposition were justified and received a theoretical support by using the PCE. On the other hand, the correlation of classic issues of the deformable solid mechanics with the fracture mechanics concepts became possible as it is shown in some of the papers in this volume. The PCE represents a powerful ¿tool¿ for experimental results evaluation because it allows the consideration of the non-linear behavior of materials, rate of process variables, irreversible transformations (introduced through the deterioration concept) and stochastic distribution of the physical characteristics of materials.