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

TL;DR

This paper investigates supersonic crack propagation in lattice models of Mode III brittle fracture, revealing how large deformations lead to soliton-guided cracks and a universal velocity-stretching relationship.

Contribution

It introduces a lattice model capturing supersonic crack dynamics and elucidates the universal velocity dependence on stretching in Mode III fracture.

Findings

Supersonic crack propagation occurs at large deformations.

Cracks are guided by soliton waves at high stretching.

A universal velocity-stretching relation is identified.

Abstract

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.