Supersonic crack propagation in a class of lattice models of Mode III brittle fracture

T. M. GUOZDEN, E. A. JAGLA

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

American Physical Society

Lugar: New York; Año: 2005 vol. 95 p. 224302 - 224302

0031-9007

We study a lattice model for mode III crack propagation in brittle materials in a stripe geometry at constant applied stretching. Stiffening of the material at large deformation produces supersonic crack propagation. For large stretching the propagation is guided by well developed soliton waves. For low stretching, the crack-tip velocity has a universal dependence on stretching that can be obtained using a simple geometrical argument.