This book presents the fatigue properties of structural materials used for the production of ceramics. It explains the cyclic deformation and how failures occur by fatigue. Dislocations related to fatigue are examined. The way that fatigue induces structural changes in material undergoing cyclic deformation is explained as well. A special chapter considers the importance of environmental effects on fatigue. Surface treatment such as shot pinning, sand blasting and laser treatment are described. The book explains how design should be carried out considering all the major factors leading to reduced fatigue resistance.

Joshua Pelleg has been in the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Materials Engineering Department in Beer-Sheva, Israel, since 1970, was among the founders of the department, and served as its second chairman. Professor Pelleg was the recipient of the Samuel Ayrton Chair in Metallurgy. He specializes in the mechanical properties of materials and the diffusion and defects in solids. His current research interests are mechanical properties, diffusion in solids, thin film deposition and properties (mostly by sputtering), and the characterization of thin films, among them various silicides.

Chapter 1. Basic Concepts of Fatigue.- Chapter 2. Endurance Limit.- Chapter 3. Stress Cycles.- Chapter 4. Fatigue life.- Chapter 5. Strengthening (Softening).- Chapter 6. Structural Features.- Chapter 7. Underloading, Overloading Cumulative Damage and Variable Amplitude Loading.- Chapter 8. Structural Observations in Fatigued Specimens.- Chapter 9. Work Hardening (Softening).- Chapter 10. Fatigue Fracture.- Chapter 11. The Notch Effect.- Chapter 12. The Effect of Environment.- Chapter 13. Surface Treatment.- Chapter 14. Cyclic Deformation in Nanostructure.- Chapter 15. Static Fatigue.- Chapter 16. Thermal Fatigue.