Problems of dynamic fracture mechanics without contact of the crack faces

In this, the first part of the survey we have discussed only certain aspects of dynamic fracture mechanics. The surveyed material has been selected with a preference for the most highly developed parts of the theory, specifically those elements which have direct bearing on the second part of the survey. We have also included information on the dynamic fracture mechanics of initially stressed materials, in the development of which one of the authors has been a major contributor.