An Einstein Model of Brittle Crack Propagation

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1996 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.78· OSTI ID:432552

Holian, B L; Blumenfeld, R ^[1]; Blumenfeld, R ^[2]; Gumbsch, P ^[3]

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1. Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
2. Cambridge Hydrodynamics, Princeton, New Jersey 08542 (United States)
3. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Metallforschung, 70174 Stuttgart (Germany)

We propose a minimal nonlinear model of brittle crack propagation by considering only the motion of the crack-tip atom. The model captures many essential features of steady-state crack velocity and is in excellent quantitative agreement with many-body dynamical simulations. The model exhibits lattice trapping.For loads just above this, the crack velocity rises sharply, reaching a limiting value well below that predicted by elastic continuum theory. We trace the origin of the low limiting velocity to the anharmonicity of the potential well experienced by the crack-tip atom. {copyright} {ital 1996} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 432552
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 78; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BRITTLENESS
CRACK PROPAGATION
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS METHOD
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
POTENTIALS
SIMULATION
VELOCITY