X PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION ceramics.Finally, a new failure analysis has been added in Chapter 14 along with dditional discussions on the fracture surface appearance of metal alloys under block- loading and load-shedding conditions, respectively it the completion of the book. A number of individuals provided assistance Some contributed glossy prints of new figures, and others offered constructive criti- cism of new sections. To these individuals I express my sincere gratitude. Special thanks are extended to the authors son, J. L. hertzberg for drafting Section 5.8 and for providing several new figures. The author greatly appreciates the help of Drs.H. M. Chan, M. P. Harmer, and D. B williams for reviewing new sections of the book I appreciate the help of several of my former students, H. Azimi, T. Pecorini, C. Ragazzo, and T. Clark, for use of their recent research findings and for their usefu comments.I am grateful to the students in my recent graduate classes who reviewe several new sections of the book. Mr. Ken Marschall gratefully extended permissi of his artistic rendition of the sunken remains of the titanic. The also appreciates the editorial and production staffs at John wiley and to M.Mattie S. Siegler, and S. Coe from Lehigh University for their help with completion of the manuscript. book. To her, I extend my love and appreciation Qerstanding each time I revise this My wife Linda continues to be patient and ur Richard w. Hertzberg