The role of temperature in the rigidity-controlled fracture of elastic networks

TL;DR

This study investigates how temperature affects the fracture behavior of elastic networks, revealing that higher temperatures lead to more homogeneous stress distribution, increased ductility, and decreased strength, with effects modulated by network rigidity.

Contribution

It demonstrates how thermal fluctuations influence fracture processes in elastic networks, highlighting the interplay between temperature, rigidity, and failure mechanisms.

Findings

Higher temperature causes more homogeneous stress distribution.

Increased temperature leads to more ductile fracture behavior.

Material strength decreases as temperature rises.

Abstract

We study the influence of thermal fluctuations on the fracture of elastic networks, via simulations of the uniaxial extension of central-force spring networks with varying rigidity, i.e. connectivity. Studying their failure response, both at the macroscopic and microscopic level, we find that an increase in temperature corresponds to a more homogeneous stress (re)distribution and induces thermally activated failure of springs. As a consequence, the material strength decreases upon increasing temperature, the damage is spread over larger lengthscales and a more ductile fracture process is observed. These effects are modulated by network rigidity and can therefore be tuned via the network connectivity and the rupture threshold of the springs. Knowledge of the interplay between temperature and rigidity improves our understanding of the fracture of elastic networks, such as (biological) polymer networks, and can help to refine design principles for tough soft materials.