Repulsion and Attraction between a Pair of Cracks in a Plastic Sheet

TitleRepulsion and Attraction between a Pair of Cracks in a Plastic Sheet
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsDalbe, M-J, Koivisto, J, Vanel, L, Miksic, A, Ramos, O, Alava, M, Santucci, S
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume114
Issue20
Date PublishedJan-05-2015
ISSN0031-9007
Abstract

We study the interaction of two collinear cracks in polymer sheets slowly growing towards each other, when submitted to uniaxial stress at a constant loading velocity. Depending on the sample’s geometry—specifically, the initial distances d between the two cracks’ axes and L between the cracks’ tips—we observe different crack paths with, in particular, a regime where the cracks repel each other prior to being attracted. We show that the angle θ characterizing the amplitude of the repulsion—and specifically its evolution with d—depends strongly on the microscopic behavior of the material. Our results highlight the crucial role of the fracture process zone. At interaction distances larger than the process zone size, crack repulsion is controlled by the microscopic shape of the process zone tip, while at shorter distances, the overall plastic process zone screens the repulsion interaction.

URLhttp://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.205501
DOI10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.205501
Short TitlePhys. Rev. Lett.