The results of comprehensive studies of multifactor processes, mechanisms and criteria for fracture at a variation of the crack-like defect state, loading conditions and mechanical properties of structural materials carried out in the 20th - 21st centuries are presented on the basis of monographic publications and articles published in the journal “Zavodskaya Laboratoriya. Diagnostika Materialov.” Crack resistance of materials and structures has become a key problem of the material science, technology, design, manufacture and service of structures. Fracture mechanics including estimation of the stress-strain and limiting states in a cracks tip formed a scientific basis of the crack resistance analysis Stress intensity factors (linear fracture mechanics) and strain intensity factors (nonlinear fracture mechanics) are accepted as the basic criteria of those states. The basic computational relations for construction of the fracture diagrammes which link the cracks growth with conditions of a static, cyclic, long-term, dynamic loading are presented. Parameters of computational relations are put into correspondence with the features of fracture processes on nano-, micro-, meso- and macrolevels. Prospects of the research and guidelines of further studing crack resistance are discussed.
