A. A. Griffith's work on fracture mechanics

A. A. Griffith was a scientist who developed fundamental ideas in fracture mechanics, which studies how and why materials break. He discovered that microscopic cracks within materials grow under stress, eventually causing failure. Griffith's work showed that the energy required to create new crack surfaces influences a material’s strength. His theory explains why materials are not infinitely strong and helps predict failure, informing safer design in engineering. Essentially, his insights link the presence of tiny cracks to the larger process of breaking, providing a scientific basis for understanding material durability and safety.